title: Effect of two anticoagulants on leukocyte yield and function, and on lysosomal enzyme activity.
abstract: We compared acid citrate-dextrose (ACD-B) and heparin to determine which anticoagulant better preserves leukocytes for lysosomal enzyme assays if processing was done immediately or delayed for 24 h or more. Twenty normal subjects had blood drawn into tubes containing either ACD-B or heparin. The leukocytes were isolated by sedimentation in dextran (50 g/L) less than 2, 24, 48, and 72 h later. The most apparent difference was that cell counts indicated a 30% reduction in the number of leukocytes for ACD-B and a 95% reduction for heparin-treated cells at 48 h. The neutrophil function assay indicated that leukocyte processing must be done in less than 24 h regardless of the anticoagulant used, and that heparin is to be preferred. A comparison of heparin and ACD-B for maintenance of the activity of arylsulfatase A (EC 3.2.6.1) and hexosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.50) indicates that there is no effect of anticoagulant. However, at 48 h after venipuncture, there is an 80% reduction in the number of heparin-treated samples that are suitable for use in the assay. Those laboratories doing lysosomal enzyme tests on mailed specimens, which are most often greater than 24 h old, should use ACD-B as anticoagulant.
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001793:Blood Preservation; D002553:Cerebroside-Sulfatase / Q000097:blood; D019343:Citric Acid; D005947:Glucose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006493:Heparin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001619:beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; C002113:acid citrate dextrose; D019343:Citric Acid; D006493:Heparin; D002553:Cerebroside-Sulfatase; D001619:beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases; D005947:Glucose