EDTA-temperature-Induced pseudohematocytopenia in a patient with multiple myeloma.
BACKGROUND
Platelet clumping caused by ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and erythrocyte agglutination caused by cold agglutinins are often found in clinical findings. However, erythrocyte agglutination induced by EDTA has not been reported as yet.


METHODS
Spurious low red blood cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC), and platelet counts were observed in a patient blood sample collected in EDTA in vitro at room temperature and 37 degrees C. However, the phenomena were only observed in the sodium citrate and heparin anticoagulated blood at room temperature, but not at 37 degrees C. Both erythrocyte agglutination and platelet clumping were observed in the peripheral blood smear. These data suggest an EDTA-temperature-induced pseudohematocytopenia.


CONCLUSIONS
It is a very rare phenomenon to observe erythrocyte agglutination induced by EDTA and temperature.
Department of Laboratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, PR China.
Lixia
L
Zhang
Shiyang
S
Pan
Jie
J
Zhang
Lin
L
Lu
Erfu
E
Xie
Qin
Q
Ye
D000368:Aged; D000371:Agglutination / Q000187:drug effects; D016477:Artifacts; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002449:Cell Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003080:Cold Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000097:blood*; D010198:Pancytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced
D002614:Chelating Agents; D004492:Edetic Acid