Respiratory or Metabolic Acidosis or Alkalosis?

 This is the way I see it.

pH  norm = 7.4  +/-  0.05

PaCO2 norm = 40  +/-  5

HCO3 norm = 24  +/-  2

 

• If your pH is low and your PaCO2 is high (inverse) you have RESPIRATORYacidosis.  
• If your pH is high and your PaCO2 is low (inverse) you have RESPIRATORY alkalosis
• If your pH is low and your HCO3 is low, (and your PaCO2 is normal or low) you have Metabolic acidosis
• If your pH is high and your HCO3 is high, (and your PaCO2 is normal or high) you have Metabolic alkalosis