Anticoagulant and Blood Collecting Tubes

Anticoagulant
and
Blood Collecting Tubes

1. Anticoagulant
and
Blood Collecting Tubes

5. When Blood is collected, it clots after some time. The
anticoagulants are the chemical agents which prevent
the clotting of Blood when mixed with Blood in proper
proportion.
•Purpose of using anticoagulants:
-For study of various constituents of Blood components.
-Study of coagulation (clotting of Blood).
-Preservation of Blood in Blood Bank.
Anticoagulant

6. Coagulation(clotting) mechanism
Prothrombin Thrombin
Thrombin
Fibrinogen Fibrin clot
(soluble) Calcium (Insoluble)
Thromboplastin
Calcium

8. Anticoagulant
Calcium
chelate
Oxalates
Ammonium oxalate
Potassium oxalate
Double Oxalate
E.D.T.A.
Tri-Sodium
citrate
Non-calcium
chelate
Heparin
Warfarin

9. An anticoagulant selected for use in hematological examination
must have the following qualities:
1.It must not alter the size of the red cells.
2.It must not cause hemolysis.
3.It must minimize platelet aggregation.
4.It must minimize disruption of the staining and
morphology of leukocytes.
5.It must be readily soluble in blood.
Characteristics of Anticoagulant

10. Oxalates (Ammonium, Potassium and double oxalate)
▪This is used at a concentration of 2 mg for 1 ml of Blood.
▪This anticoagulant is most often used for chemical analysis.
▪This anticoagulant causes swelling/shrinkage of the RBC,
therefore, it is not recommended for use with blood for
PCV, ESR and cell morphology.

11. E.D.T.A.(Ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid)
It is the most commonly used anticoagulant in Haematology
lab because of E.D.T.A. is the most powerful calcium
chelating (binding) agent.
It gives the best preservation to the cell morphology
therefore E.D.T.A. is the preferred anticoagulant for all cell
count and blood smear preparation.
E.D.T.A. is used in two different forms:-
Di-sodium E.D.T.A. salt
Di-potassium E.D.T.A. salt

12. Tri-sodium citrate
It is used as a liquid form.
It binds with calcium and work best chelating effect.
The concentration of Tri- sodium citrate is used as 3.8%.
Use to check the clotting timing, i.e., PT (Prothrombin Time),
Also use for ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate).
 It does not preserve the cell morphology.

13. Heparin
It is a natural anticoagulant
It is normally present in the blood in small amount and
highly acidic in nature.
This is the best anticoagulant for open heart surgery, and it
causes minimum haemolysis.
It is very expensive.
It produce black background in the smear, so it is not use
for smear preparation, and cell morphology.

14. ▪AVacutainerblood collection tube is a sterile glass or plastic tube
with a closure that is evacuated to create a vacuum inside the tube
facilitating the draw of a predetermined volume of liquid.
▪Vacutainer tubes may contain anticoagulant designed to stabilize
and preserve the specimen prior to analytical testing.
▪The test tubes are covered with a color-coded plastic cap.
▪The colour of the tube's plastic cap indicates which additives that
tube contains.
▪Vacutainer® blood collection tubes, with anticoagulants (EDTA
K2, EDTA K3, Lithium Heparin, Sodium Heparin), and Blood
Clotting Accelerants (Silica, Thrombin, Venom).
Vacutainersblood collection tubes

15. The red bottle is used for Biochemistry tests
requiringserum
ADDITIVE:containssilica, thrombin particles
which act asclot activators.
Usage: includinghormones,toxicology, drug levels,
bacterialand viral serologyandantibodies
Vacutainer Red Top Tube
RST(Rapid Serum Tube)

16. used forhaematologytests wherewhole bloodis
required for analysis.
ADDITIVE: K3EDTA(ethylene diamine tetra
acetic acid),
Usage:
•blood films
•Complete blood count(CBC)
•erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR)
•molecular genetic studies (DNA or RNA)
•blood filmfor abnormal cells or malaria
parasites
Vacutainer Purple Top Tube

17. used only for whole blood samples being sent
to the transfusion lab.
ADDITIVE: anticoagulant K2EDTA.
Usage
•Blood film
•blood group typing
•Tested for antibodies
•Blood Transfusion
Vacutainer Pink Top Tube

18. used for haematology tests involving the clotting
system,
ADDITIVE: contains buffered sodium citrate,
Usage:
▪coagulation screenincluding
▪bleeding time,
▪prothrombin (PT)
▪thrombinorfibrinogenassay.
Vacutainer light blue Top Tube

19. Usage: for toxicology andtrace elements
such as zinc, selenium and copper
Tubes are used for trace metal analysis.
ADDITIVE: contains buffered sodium heparin
Vacutainer Royal blue Top Tube

20. used for ahuge variety of testsrequiring separatedserumfor
analysis, including biochemistry, endocrinology, oncology,
toxicology, microbiology and immunology.
SST(serum separating tube)
ADDITIVE: contains two agents; silica particles and a serum
separating gel.
Usage:
•urea and electrolytes(U+E) – this includes urea, creatinine,
sodium and potassium
•liver function tests(LFTs) – this includes bilirubin, ALP,
AST/ALT, GGT, total protein and albumin
•iron studies– this includes serum iron, ferritin, transferrin
saturation and total iron binding capacity
•lipid profile– this includes cholesterol, LDL, HDL and
triglycerides
•vitamins e.g.vitaminB12
Vacutainer Yellow Top Tube

21. used for biochemistrytests requiringwhole
bloodfor analysis.
ADDITIVE: contains Potassium oxalate
Usage:
glucose– use for fasting or non-fasting,
part of a glucose tolerance test (GTT)
Vacutainer Gray Top Tube

22. used forbiochemistrytests which require
heparinized Plasmaorwhole bloodfor analysis.
ADDITIVE:containssodiumheparin,
Usage:
▪ammonia
▪insulin
▪renin and aldosterone
Vacutainer Green Top Tube

23. used for biochemistry tests requiring separated
heparinized plasma.
Plasma Separator Tube (PST)
ADDITIVE:contains containslithium heparin,
Usage : plasma and its constitute determinations
Vacutainer light Green Top Tube

24. Used for ESR also known as Erythrocyte
Sedimentation Rate
ADDITIVE: contains buffered sodium citrate,
Usage: Blood Chemistry testing and ESR
Vacutainer Black Top Tube

25. Usage: for molecular diagnostics such as
PCR and DNA amplification studies
Additives: contain Potassium EDTA
Commonly use for molecular diagnostics tests
Vacutainer White Top Tube

26. Anticoagulant used in Blood Bank
ACD (Acid Citrate Dextrose)
CPD ( Citrate Phosphate Dextrose )
CPDA (Citrate Phosphate Dextrose Adenine)