Commonly Used Anticoagulants/Additives

Question 1

Commonly used anticoagulants/additives (4)

Answer 1

EDTA, heparin, sodium citrate, sodium fluoride

Question 2

stopper color for EDTA

Answer 2

lavender

Question 3

mode of action of EDTA

Answer 3

prevents clotting by chelating Ca2+

Question 4

examples of use of EDTA

Answer 4

CBC, diff, sed rate

Question 5

comments of EDTA

Answer 5

prevents platelets from clumping. minimal morphologic changes to WBCs. Tube should be at least 1/2 full

Question 6

stopper color for heparin

Answer 6

green

Question 7

mode of action of heparin

Answer 7

prevents clotting by neutralizing thrombin

Question 8

examples of use of heparin

Answer 8

many chemistries, osmotic fragility, plasma Hgb, blood gases

Question 9

comments of heparin

Answer 9

best anticoagulant for prevention of hemolysis. Don’t use for diffs

Question 10

stopper color for sodium citrate

Answer 10

light blue

Question 11

mode of action of sodium citrate

Answer 11

prevents clotting by binding Ca2+

Question 12

examples of use of sodium citrate

Answer 12

most coag tests

Question 13

comments of sodium citrate

Answer 13

preserves labile clotting factors. tube must be full for 9:1 blood-to-anticoagulant ratio or coag results falsely ↑. Use discard tube if using a butterfly

Question 14

stopper color for sodium fluoride

Answer 14

gray

Question 15

mode of action of sodium fluoride

Answer 15

inhibits glycolysis (not an anticoagulant)

Question 16

examples of use of sodium fluoride

Answer 16

glucose, lactic acid, blood alcohol

Question 17

comments on sodium fluoride

Answer 17

preserves glucose for 24 hr; combined with K oxalate if anticoagulation needed. Oxalate binds with Ca2+