Check out the Principle, Preparation & Uses of Anticoagulants in Hematology Laboratory

Hey, Good to see you here 😀 …… In this Article, we’re gonna discuss the various Anticoagulants used in Hematology Laboratory….. If you have any queries, don’t forget to mention in Comments…Thanks

Anticoagulants are the Chemical substances that prevent the blood from clotting when mixed with inappropriate concentration with the Blood Specimen.

Some of these agents are used to treat thrombotic and thromboembolic diseases such as Stroke, Myocardial Infarction, and Deep Vein Thrombosis.

• Thrombus: A Thrombus is a fibrinous clot that forms in and obstructs the blood vessel, or that forms in one of the Chambers of the heart (It stays in one place).
• Embolism: An Embolism is a mass, such as an air bubble, a detached blood clot, or a foreign body, that travels to the bloodstream and lodges so as to obstruct a blood vessel (it is a mobile thrombus).

A few of the anticoagulant is used in the laboratory test related to (Complete Blood Count) CBC, Coagulation Studies, Platelet function test, and other Hematological tests as well as for some of the Biochemical Tests.

Anticoagulant is used in the hematological laboratory where Whole blood or Plasma is required which depends upon the tests to be done and then the type of anticoagulant is decided. Most of the anticoagulants prevent the clotting by removing calcium or iron which is necessary for clotting process. Every anticoagulant is added in fixed proportion to blood.

What is the Working Principle of Anticoagulants?

Most of the anticoagulant commonly used acts by removing the calcium ions present in the blood which is required for the coagulation process. The anticoagulant binds with the calcium and thus prevents blood from clotting. Also, some anticoagulants are used for specific assays due to their unique properties such as fluoride which inhibits the activity of Phosphorylase enzymes and provides precise results in Blood Sugar Estimation and Citrate in specific concentrations used for the Coagulation studies etc.

Following Anticoagulants are most commonly used in almost every laboratory for routine test Assays –

EDTA – Ethylene Diammine Tetraacetic Acid

 It is widely used chemical anticoagulant in the laboratory. EDTA is colorless, water soluble and acts as a chelating agent that is it has the ability to bind to metal ions like Calcium.

 It is used in the concentration of 1.25 to 1.75 milligram per ml of blood.

 Blood collected in EDT can be used for TLC, PS preparation, Hemoglobin Estimation and Differential Leukocyte Count (DLC).

Mechanism of action of EDTA

 It acts by the chelating effect on the calcium molecules in the blood. It is effective when used as about 1.2 mg/ml of blood.

Advantages of EDTA

 It gives better preservation to the cellular morphology of blood cells when observed even after 3 hours of blood collection.

 It can be used for platelets counting as it inhibits the clumping of platelets.

Disadvantages of EDTA

 Excess of EDTA in the blood may lead to shrinkage of RBCs & WBCs. It may cause degenerative changes in the blood cells.

 Also, the excess amount of EDTA may cause the decrease in Packed Cell Volume (PCV) & Increase in MCHC (Mean Cell Hemoglobin Concentration).

 It activates naturally occurring anti-platelet auto-antibodies which cause the platelet adherence to Neutrophils.

Uses of EDTA

 Following tests are commonly done by using EDTA as an anticoagulant –

• Complete Blood Count (CBC)
• Hemoglobin estimation
• Hematocrit or Packed Cell Volume estimation
• ESR by wintrobes method
• HbA1C test
• Platelet count
• Red cell Indices
• Differential Leukocyte Count

Tri-Sodium Citrate

 It was first used as an anticoagulant in blood transfusion in the earlier 20^th century. Its usefulness continues till today in blood collection tubes for the ESR and Coagulation studies as well as for the preservation of blood in blood banks.

Tri-Sodium Citrate – Mechanism of Action

 The action of Citrate ions is to form calcium citrate complexes which disrupt the blood clotting mechanism by chelating or binding with the calcium ion in the blood and inhibits the coagulation of blood.

Preparation of Tri-Sodium Citrate

 3.8% solution of Tri-sodium citrate is commonly used which can be easily prepared in laboratories as follows:

• Tri-sodium Citrate – 3.8gm
• Distilled Water – 100ml

 Dissolve the Tri-Sodium Citrate in Distilled water and mix well. 0.4ml of this anticoagulant is sufficient for the 2ml of blood.

Uses of Tri-Sodium Citrate

 The Citrated blood is used for

• ESR estimation by Westergren Method – for 1 volume of citrate, 4 volume of blood is added.
• Coagulation studies – for 1 volume of citrate, 9 volume of blood is added.

 Citrated blood cannot be used for Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Hemoglobin (Hb) Estimation, Total Leukocyte Count TLC, and Differential Leukocyte Count (DLC) because citrate is used as a solution and it alters the concentration of blood.

Oxalates

 They can be used as Single oxalates as Sodium Oxalate or Potassium Oxalate or Ammonium oxalate but are commonly used as Double Oxalates because when used alone the Potassium oxalate, when used at a concentration of 2mg/ml of blood causes the Shrinkage of Red Blood Cells (RBCs) whereas the Ammonium oxalate may cause the Swelling of Red blood cells when used at concentration of 2mg/ml.

Oxalates – Mechanism of Action

 It acts as a chelating agent and binds with the calcium ions present in the blood and forms insoluble precipitates of Calcium Oxalates.

Preparation of Double Oxalate

 The double oxalate consist of

• Ammonium Oxalate – 1.2 gm (3 parts)
• Potassium Oxalate – 0.8 gm (2 parts)
• Water – 100 ml

 It as prepared as the 20 mg/ml concentrated oxalate solution that means 2mg/0.1 ml of oxalate. 0.5 ml of this solution is poured into the container and dries, which is sufficient for 5 ml of blood.

Remember that the Potassium oxalate and Ammonium Oxalate should be used in a ratio 2:3 and at a concentration of 2mg/ml of blood.

Uses of Oxalates

 It can be used for the Blood chemistry, Packed cell volume (PCV), Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), Total Leukocyte Count (TLC), Specific gravity etc.

Advantages of Double oxalates

 Double oxalate is preferred as it prevents the swelling effect of Ammonium oxalate & shrinking effect of Potassium oxalate on the RBCs.

Disadvantages of Oxalates

 The morphology of the White Blood Cells (WBCs) is not preserved well so it is not useful for making Peripheral Blood Smear.

 The Calcium Oxalate precipitate that forms in the blood is harmful as it is a toxic agent & it is not used as a preservative in blood banks.

Sodium Fluoride

 It is the anticoagulant of choice for the estimation of blood sugar.

Sodium Fluoride – Mechanism of Action

 It binds with the calcium ions present in the blood and forms Calcium fluoride. Also, it is commonly used whenever the blood sugar estimation is required to be done because Sodium Fluoride is the competitive inhibitor of Phosphorylase enzymes and prevents glycolysis by blocking its activity.

Preparation of Sodium Fluoride

 It is commonly used at the concentration of 6mg/ml of blood and can easily be prepared in the laboratory as follows –

• Sodium Fluoride – 3gm
• Distilled water – 100 ml

 Dissolve the content and mix well. It gives the solution at a concentration of 30mg/ml. 1 ml of this solution is poured into a container and allowed to dry, which is sufficient for 5 ml of blood as 6mg/ml is used.

Uses of Sodium Fluoride

 It is commonly used for the estimation of Blood Sugar and other biochemical tests.

 

Biological / Natural Anticoagulant – Heparin

 Heparin is a natural anticoagulant which cannot be prepared in the laboratory. It is obtained from the leech. It is a good anticoagulant and well preserves the morphology of the Red Blood Cells (RBCs).

 It is used in the concentration of 10-15 units equivalent to 0.1-0.2 mg/ml of Blood. The Anticoagulant is first sterilized and then taken in the container or Blood collection vial, afterward blood is added to it in an appropriate concentration, mixed gently by inverting it 10-15 times or shaking it gently.

 Heparin inhibits the Thromboplastin formation and destroys the thrombin (Anti-thrombin activity) and hence disrupts the clotting mechanism.

 The heparinized blood specimen is commonly used to determine the blood gases especially the Arterial Blood Gas Analysis. It can be used for Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Osmotic Fragility Test (OFT), Immunophenotyping and other Hematological tests.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. How many types of anticoagulant are used in hematology?

There are several types of anticoagulants used in hematology, including heparin, citrate, EDTA, and oxalate.

Q2. What are anticoagulants and its uses?

Anticoagulants are substances that prevent blood clotting. They are used in hematology to prevent blood from clotting during laboratory tests, to treat and prevent blood clots in medical conditions such as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and atrial fibrillation, and to prevent blood clots during surgery.

Q3. What is the mode of action of anticoagulant in hematology?

Anticoagulants work by inhibiting or reducing the activity of clotting factors in the blood, which prevents the formation of blood clots. They do this by either inhibiting the production of clotting factors or by directly interfering with the clotting process.

Q4. What are the 4 anticoagulants used in blood bank?

The four anticoagulants used in blood bank are citrate, heparin, EDTA, and CPDA.

Q5. Which anticoagulant and tube is used for most hematology tests?

EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) is the anticoagulant used for most hematology tests, and the tube used is a purple top tube or lavender top tube.

Q6. What are the 3 major anticoagulants used in hematology and hemostasis?

The three major anticoagulants used in hematology and hemostasis are heparin, citrate, and EDTA. Heparin is commonly used in clinical settings to prevent blood clotting during procedures, while citrate and EDTA are used in laboratory settings for blood collection and testing.