Effects of EDTA on routine and specialized coagulation testing and an easy method to distinguish EDTA-treated from citrated plasma samples.
Coagulation testing is performed with citrate-treated plasma. Samples submitted in other anticoagulants, such as EDTA, should not be tested. We aimed to evaluate the effects of EDTA on routine and specialized coagulation tests and to establish sodium tetraphenylborate testing as a quick and reliable method to identify EDTA-treated plasma samples. We performed the following measurements on citrateand EDTA-treated plasma samples from 10 healthy volunteers: sodium tetraphenylborate testing, prothrombin time (PT), partial thromboplastin time (PTT), potassium concentration, and functional assays for factors II, V, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, proteins C and S, and antithrombin. Mean values for citrate- and EDTA-treated plasma were most different for PT, PTT, factors V and VIII, and proteins C and S. Sodium tetraphenylborate testing correctly classified 100% of citratetreated and EDTA-treated samples. We confirm that EDTA has effects on coagulation assays. Sodium tetraphenylborate testing is a quick, simple, and inexpensive method for coagulation laboratories to identify samples erroneously submitted in EDTA.
Crist
Ronda A
RA
ARUP Institute for Clinical and Experimental Pathology, Salt Lake City ARUP Hemostasis/Thrombosis Laboratory, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA.
Gibbs
Kathie
K
Rodgers
George M
GM
Smock
Kristi J
KJ
D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D001780:Blood Coagulation Tests; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011232:Chemical Precipitation; D002951:Citrates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D000077559:Sodium Citrate; D012995:Solubility; D013048:Specimen Handling; D013775:Tetraphenylborate / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology
D000925:Anticoagulants; D002614:Chelating Agents; D002951:Citrates; D000077559:Sodium Citrate; D013775:Tetraphenylborate; D004492:Edetic Acid; D002118:Calcium