Philippine E-Journals

Sodium Acetate as an Alternative In-Vitro Anticoagulant for Complete Blood Count As Compared to Ethylene Diamine Tetraacetic Acid

Kristine G. Calma | Precious Lou C. Corales | Ivan Al M. Del Rosario | Katrina O. Fernando | Marvin Adrian R. Pua

Discipline: Medicine

 

Abstract:

Ethylene Diamine Tetraacetic Acid (EDTA) is used as a standard anticoagulant for Complete

Blood Count (CBC). Aside from EDTA, there are other compounds that may act as anticoagulant such as Sodium Acetate. Sodium Acetate is a common inexpensive chemical that chelates calcium, a known enzyme activator in clot formation.

 

This study determined the anticoagulant ability of Sodium Acetate. The researchers determined the concentration of Sodium Acetate that can act as an anticoagulant and become a possible substitute for EDTA. The researchers tested a number of concentrations and dilutions to determine the concentration range in which Sodium Acetate functions as an anticoagulant using the Tilt Tube/ Rim method. Adjustments on anticoagulant to blood ratio was carried out to improve the effects of Sodium Acetate. The researchers concluded that 1ml of 21% or 210 mg/mL of Sodium Acetate in 2.5ml of blood can be used as a substitute for EDTA.

 

Blood from twenty participants were drawn and placed separately in EDTA and Sodium Acetate solution. These were tested for CBC using manual methods. T-test revealed that there was no significant difference in the values for Red Blood Cell (RBC) Count, White Blood Cell (WBC) Count, differential count for neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils between Sodium Acetate and EDTA. However, there was a slight variation in the values obtain for platelets and hematocrit.