The consequences of insufficient clotting time in blood collection vessels using coagulants

The use of coagulant blood collection tubes is one of the important means to obtain serum samples during medical testing. Coagulants activate some coagulation factors in plasma and platelets, promoting the formation of clotting enzymes and fibrin clots, thereby accelerating the contraction of blood clots and achieving rapid separation of serum. However, when the clotting time of the coagulant blood collection tube is insufficient, it may lead to a series of adverse consequences, which not only affect the accuracy of the test results, but also may mislead the diagnosis and treatment of patients.

Physical phenomena caused by insufficient coagulation

Firstly, insufficient clotting time can directly lead to the hanging of blood cells and fibrin filaments, as well as mild hemolysis. During the coagulation process, fibrinogen gradually transforms into insoluble fibrin under the action of coagulants, forming clots. If the clotting time is not sufficient, the contraction of fibrin and the formation of clots will be incomplete, resulting in some fibrin filaments remaining in the serum and forming wall hanging phenomenon. In addition, red blood cells may be subjected to mechanical compression or chemical damage during the coagulation process, leading to mild hemolysis, which is the rupture of red blood cells and the release of hemoglobin into the serum.

Affects serum separation efficiency

Insufficient clotting time can also seriously affect the separation efficiency of serum. Under normal circumstances, it takes sufficient time for the blood sample to completely coagulate after being separated from the body, and then the serum is separated by centrifugation. However, if the clotting time is insufficient, the blood may not form a stable clot during centrifugation, resulting in ineffective separation of serum. This not only increases the difficulty of operation, but may also mix impurities such as blood cell debris and fibrin fibers into the serum, affecting the accuracy and reliability of subsequent testing.

The impact on the inspection results

The impact of insufficient clotting time on test results is multifaceted. Firstly, due to the possibility of impurities such as blood cell debris and fibrin fibers mixed into the serum, these impurities can interfere with the normal operation of the testing instrument, leading to deviations in the test results. For example, in biochemical testing, these impurities may interfere with detection indicators such as absorbance and fluorescence intensity, causing the results to deviate from the true values. Secondly, mild hemolysis can release hemoglobin into the serum, which has strong oxidizing properties and may damage certain components in the test reagent, further affecting the accuracy of the test results.

How to avoid the problem of insufficient clotting time

To avoid the problem of insufficient clotting time for blood collection vessels with coagulants, we can start from the following aspects:

1. Standardized operation: Strictly follow the operating procedures to use the coagulant blood collection tube, ensuring that the blood is in full contact with the coagulant and mixed evenly.

2. Temperature control: When the blood collection environment temperature is below 20 ℃, the amount of coagulant added should be appropriately increased, and the number of reverse mixing should be increased to prolong the clotting time. If necessary, a 36 ℃ water bath can be used for heating treatment.

3. Choose the appropriate coagulant: Select the appropriate coagulant type and dosage based on the patient's blood characteristics and testing needs.

4. Strengthen quality management: Strictly manage the production and use process of coagulant blood collection tubes to ensure that the spraying amount, drying temperature, and other parameters of the coagulant meet the specified requirements.

5. Timely submission for testing: After blood collection, send the specimen to the laboratory for testing as soon as possible to avoid prolonged clotting time or blood deterioration caused by prolonged storage.

In summary, insufficient clotting time of coagulant blood collection vessels can lead to a series of adverse consequences, including changes in physical phenomena, decreased serum separation efficiency, deviation in test results, and impact on clinical diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, we must attach great importance to this issue and take effective measures to avoid and solve it.

As a professional manufacturer of coagulants, Desheng currently sells two types of coagulants: enzyme containing and enzyme free. The coagulation time can be quickly completed within 10 minutes, effectively ensuring experimental results. If you have any relevant intentions, please feel free to contact us at any time to place an order!