To test the hypothesis that NOx (NO[Formula: see text] and NO[Formula: see text], metabolites of NO) accumulates in red blood cells (RBC) in response to changes in Pco 2 and bicarbonate (HCO[Formula: see text]) concentration in blood, we examined the effect of changes in Pco 2 and HCO[Formula: see text] induced by hyperventilation in healthy adults on partitioning of NOx in whole blood. NOx in hemolysate was measured by a high-performance liquid chromatography-Griess system equipped with a C18 reverse phase column to trap hemoglobin, which enables determination of whole blood NOx concentration and calculation of NOx concentration in RBC with high accuracy and reproducibility. NOx concentration in RBC was lower than that in plasma, and equilibrium between plasma and RBC was achieved rapidly after addition of NO[Formula: see text]. Changes in Pco 2 and HCO[Formula: see text] by hyperventilation failed to influence NOx concentrations in both plasma and RBC. Plasma NOx concentrations correlated with whole blood NOx and RBC NOx concentrations. Our results indicate that changes in Pco 2 or HCO[Formula: see text] induced by hyperventilation do not influence NOx compartmentalization in plasma and RBC.