Views: 459 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2025-01-22 Origin: Site
Yingtai: The effects of different anticoagulants on blood components
The effects of different anticoagulants on blood components are mainly reflected in the following aspects:
1. Prevention of Blood Coagulation
The primary function of anticoagulants is to prevent blood from clotting after sampling, thus maintaining the stability of blood components. Different anticoagulants achieve this by different mechanisms:
- EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) salts: They chelate calcium ions in the blood, preventing the formation of thrombin, thus preventing coagulation.
- Heparin: It enhances the action of antithrombin (AT), preventing the formation of thrombin and inhibiting platelet aggregation.
- Citrate: It forms soluble complexes with calcium ions, thereby preventing blood coagulation.
2. Effects on Blood Components
Different anticoagulants affect blood components differently, which can influence the results of blood tests.
- EDTA salts: They have minimal impact on cell morphology and platelet counts, making them suitable for hematology tests, especially platelet counting. However, they are not suitable for coagulation tests or platelet function tests.
- Oxalates: They offer poor protection for coagulation factor V, affect prothrombin time measurements, and the precipitates they form may interfere with automated coagulation analyzers. Therefore, they are not suitable for coagulation tests.
- Heparin: While it is a strong anticoagulant, it can cause leukocyte aggregation, resulting in a blue background after Wright's stain, and is not suitable for hematology tests (CBC) or cell morphology examinations.
3. Effects on Blood Layering
The use of anticoagulants can lead to stratification of blood after centrifugation:
- Plasma: The upper layer, typically pale yellow or translucent.
- White cell and platelet layer: The middle layer, typically white or pale yellow.
- Red blood cell layer: The lower layer, typically opaque and dark red.
4. Effects on Specific Testing Parameters
Different anticoagulants are suited for different tests, and choosing the correct one can improve the accuracy of test results:
- EDTA-K2·2H2O: Suitable for hematology tests (CBC), especially platelet counting.
- Sodium citrate: Suitable for coagulation tests because it forms stable complexes with calcium ions.
- Heparin: Suitable for most blood tests but not for hematology (CBC) or cell morphology examinations.
The effects of different anticoagulants on blood components vary, and selecting the appropriate anticoagulant is crucial for ensuring the accuracy of blood test results. In practice, the choice of anticoagulant should be based on the specific test and experimental requirements.