Final answer:
Arterial blood is collected in a heparinized tube to prevent clotting, maintaining the integrity of blood gases for accurate medical analysis. The correct option is a. To prevent clotting and preserve blood gases
Step-by-step explanation:
Arterial blood is collected in a sealed heparinized tube to prevent clotting and preserve blood gases. Heparin is an anticoagulant that helps to maintain the fluidity of the blood by preventing the formation of clots. This is crucial for tests where the blood must remain as close to its natural state as possible, especially when measuring blood gases, which can be altered by blood clotting.
The sealed tube also ensures that the composition of the blood does not get contaminated by atmospheric gases, which could change its gas content and thereby affect the accuracy of tests such as arterial blood gases (ABG). The correct option is a. To prevent clotting and preserve blood gases