11 February 2026
How to complete the Blood Gas Sampling Portfolio
How to complete the Blood Gas Sampling Portfolio
In recent years the number of health care professionals, other than doctors, taking blood gas samples, either by arterialised capillary or arterial sample, has significantly increased. Although nationally agreed standards have been published for the performance of blood gas sampling and analysis, staff performing these tests are not always aware of the standards or the competencies to which they should be working. Staff are often not formally trained in the procedure and have not been assessed in the practical competences and skills frequently fall way below the acceptable standard. It is vitally important that all blood gas sampling and analysis is performed to recognised standards to ensure accurate and reliable results.
To ensure that patients are appropriately investigated and monitored the Association for Respiratory Technology and Physiology (ARTP) have developed a Certificate of Competence to demonstrate the proficiency of practitioners to perform such measurements.
The ARTP Certificate of Competence in Blood Gas Sampling and Analysis has been introduced to demonstrate a recognised standard for those practitioners who complete the Blood Gas Certificate programme.
Aim and format of the program:
To provide a competence based assessment for the performance and analysis of blood gases by arterial/arterialised capillary samples.
The assessment consists of a Portfolio of Evidence and a Log book of procedures.
When the logbook and portfolio have been completed, they should be submitted to the ARTP Administrator will arrange for them to be assessed. Extensions will only be granted under serious circumstances and must be made at least 4 weeks before the submission date. Only one extension is allowed and candidates must apply to the Administrator in writing before a decision is made.
All candidates undertaking the ARTP Certificate of Competence in Blood Gas Sampling and Analysis should ensure that their employer is aware of their proposed change in practice BEFORE they commence their supervised practice. If individuals do not have to accept liability for their actions should there be a clinical incident.
Portfolio Contents Overview
All candidates are required to complete a portfolio of evidence of their performance of blood gas sampling, along with demonstrating an understanding of the equipment used and the risks associated with the procedure.
Candidates must submit only the requested portfolio requirements as detailed below.
All pages in your portfolio must be numbered and recorded on the contents page so they can be easily located by the assessor. All the work must be clearly divided into sections and each section must be completed.
Incomplete portfolios will be referred back to the candidates for re-submission. Work should be word processed, using a minimum font size of 11.
All work submitted must be your own.
Work Based Supervisor
You will also be required to identify a Work Based Supervisor (WBS) to support and supervise you through your training period. This person should be a registered health care professional who is competent in and currently performs either arterial or capillary blood gas sampling, depending on which blood gas sampling procedure you are training in. It is desirable that your chosen WBS has a qualification in assessment, education or training.
Your portfolio must consist of the following sections:
SECTION A - Background Information
Your portfolio must consist of the following sections:
Contents page
Your current CV
Information about your Worked Based Supervisor / Supervisors (WBS’s):
a) Name
b) Workplace
c) Job role with particular focus on their experience in blood gas sampling
d) Main assessors qualification
e) Number of years performing blood gases
A Witness Statement signed by your WBS confirming that all of the blood gas samples included in the portfolio were taken/performed by the candidate.
Background information about your workplace to include:
a) Local arrangements for blood gas sampling
b) Method of referral e.g. clinics or ad hoc basis
c) Number of tests performed and the type of patients you are testing, e.g. outpatient clinics, Community Clinics, home oxygen assessment
d) Where the tests are performed and the staff performing the tests, e.g. doctor, nurse, clinical physiologist or other.
A detailed blood gas sampling protocol, which must include.
a) The procedure that you use for blood gas sampling in your practice including patient pre-test preparation, the equipment used, your sample protocol and posttest care. Please include copies of any information leaflets that are sent to patients prior to the test.
b) Reference to all relevant health and safety policies associated with the taking, processing and handling of blood gas samples.
c) Copies of any risk assessments relevant to your service.
An outline of the blood gas analyser that you use in your practice.
a) With the aid of diagrams and pictures describe the type of blood gas analyser that you use and the way in which it analyses the blood gas samples.
b) A description of the calibration required for the device that you use. This should include the type and method of calibration.
c) You must include a full description of the quality control methods that you undertake or that are undertaken to maintain the reliability of the machine.
SECTION B - Evidence Logs
The following section should contain evidence gathered by you during your working practice:
Calibration or Verification
a) Provide evidence of at least 20 calibrations or calibration cycles on the blood gas analyser you use.
b) This can be in the form of a computer printout if the device performs automatic calibrations, or a log book of the calibrations performed if they are performed manually.
Infection Control
a) Provide information on the relevant infection control for your blood gas analyser.
b) This could be a policy developed by you for your service or a policy developed by your employer for the organisation in which you work.
SECTION C - Clinical Practice
All candidates are required to complete a Clinical Practice log in the workplace to collect evidence of performance of blood gas measurements. This forms part of the assessment requirements. It consists of 3 sections for all candidates and is a record of all of the blood gases you have observed and performed whilst under the supervision of a suitably qualified person. This evidence should be gathered during your normal working practice. All 3 sections MUST be completed.
If you are an Experienced Practitioner who does not wish to complete Section 1 (Record of observed practice) and Section 2 (Record of mentored and corrected practice), you must provide a Witness Statement signed by your WBM describing your previous experience in blood gas sampling. This is subject to approval by the ARTP Assessment Committee.
Section C1 - Record of observed practice
a) The candidate must observe and record a MINIMUM of 10 samples being performed by a competent practitioner.
b) They should be recorded on Evidence Sheet 1 and both the candidate and the Practitioner should sign off each observation. It should be noted that there is a minimum of 10 observations. However, candidates may wish to undertake more observed practice before they begin their supervised practice.
c) Experienced candidates who do not wish to undertake the Observed Practice must include a Witness Statement to this effect for this section.
Section C2 - Record of mentored and corrected practice
a) All candidates must complete a period of mentored practice prior to undertaking their Supervised Practice.
i) Experienced candidates who do not wish to complete this section must provide a Witness Statement signed by your WBA describing your previous experience in blood gas sampling.
b) All assessments should be numbered and recorded on an evidence summary sheet at the beginning of this section so the assessor can easily locate them.
c) Please provide a copy of the results of each blood gas sample included in this section along with a brief relevant patient history (reason for referral, medication, smoking history, current oxygen etc). All patient identifying information must be removed from the submitted work. Failure to do this is a breach of patient confidentiality and will result in an automatic fail being awarded.
d) For candidates performing arterialised capillary blood gas sampling, there should be 20 samples directly observed and corrected by a named WBS (mentoring), each of which is recorded on a separate assessment sheet.
e) For candidates performing arterial blood gas sampling, there should be 10 samples directly observed and corrected by named WBS (mentoring), each of which is recorded on a separate assessment sheet.
f) Where samples have been unsuccessful or have been corrected, you must describe the problem encountered and provide a short reflection on how this might be avoided in future.
Section C3 - Record of supervised practice
a) All assessments should be numbered and recorded on an evidence summary sheet at the beginning of this section so the assessor can easily locate them.
b) Please provide a copy of the results of each blood gas sample included in this section along with a brief relevant patient history. All patient identifying information must be removed from the submitted work. Failure to do this is a breach of patient confidentiality and will result in an automatic fail being awarded.
c) For candidates performing arterialised capillary blood gas sampling, there should be 20 procedures signed off by a nominated WBM (to ensure competence inpractice). Competence may be demonstrated by the acquisition of 5 consecutive, successful samples within the 20 signed off procedures.
d) For candidates performing arterial blood gas sampling, there should be 10 procedures signed off by a nominated WBM (to ensure competence in practice). Competence may be demonstrated by the acquisition of 3 consecutive, successful samples within the 10 signed off procedures.
e) Where samples have been unsuccessful or have been corrected, you must describe the problem encountered and provide a short reflection on how this might be avoided in future. There should be at least three examples in your Clinical Practice section (either in Section 2 or 3).
Click here to download Evidence Sheet & Checklists
Important Information: You will need to ensure all your results are anonymised so that the patient’s name, ID, NHS number, date of birth and address are not visible so that the patient cannot be traced in anyway. Upon marking your portfolio, if assessors note that you have uploaded identifiable patient data, marking will cease immediately.
Submitting your Completed Portfolio
On completion, please send the portfolio electronically to certificates@artp.org.uk. If the file size exceeds 10mb, we kindly request that you submit your portfolio using an online transfer facility such as WeTransfer or Dropbox. Please ensure that all documents are labelled with your name. It is advisable to retain a copy for your records.
Deadline Date
You have 6 months to complete a portfolio and this date includes any reattempts required.
Results
To be successful in the assessment you must complete the portfolio and the clinical practice logbook. To be deemed competent to practice, it is required that there is evidence of a minimum of 5 successful consecutive capillary blood gas samples or 3 successful consecutive arterial blood gas samples.
If any areas of the portfolio or logbook are deemed incomplete, a pass will not be awarded. Feedback will be provided outlining the areas that are incomplete and the portfolio and the clinical practice logbook may be re-submitted.
All candidates are allowed 1 re-submission at no additional cost. Further re-submissions will incur a fee of £50 per submission.
Details of your results will be forwarded to you within 8 - 10 weeks of receiving the above.
Extensions
If you are unable to complete your work by the assigned deadline, please complete this Extension Form and email it to certificates@artp.org.uk
Reasonable Adjustments
Candidates with impairments or learning difficulties may apply for additional time to complete their portfolio by completing a Special Requirements Form and returning it to certificates@artp.org.uk