In laboratory and clinical medicine, anticoagulants are a common reagent that can be used to prevent blood clotting and ensure the stability of blood and biological samples, which is crucial for various tests and biochemical analysis. The two common anticoagulants among them are heparin lithium and EDTA (ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid). Although they are both added to test tubes as in vitro anticoagulants, their principles of action and applicable items differ greatly. Below, we will delve into the properties, application fields, and importance of these two anticoagulants in laboratory work.
Heparin lithium
Heparin lithium is a sulfur-containing polysaccharide with negative charges. Its main mechanism is to activate antithrombin III, prevent the activation of thrombin, and slow down the coagulation process. It is used in blood collection to prevent blood from clotting inside the tube, which maintains the fluidity of the blood sample for various clinical tests, such as hemodialysis and liver and kidney function testing. However, it should be noted that although heparin lithium performs well in anticoagulation, it can also interfere with certain experiments, such as thrombin time (PT), activated partial coagulation time (APTT), and international standardized ratio (INR) in coagulation tests. Therefore, when conducting such tests, it may be necessary to consider using other anticoagulants.
EDTA (ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid)
EDTA is a strong chelating agent that can form stable complexes with calcium and other multivalent metal ions. This characteristic makes it a superior anticoagulant and can exist in the form of EDTA dipotassium or tripotassium in clinical practice. In blood samples, EDTA is usually combined with calcium ions in the blood to prevent blood clotting, and is usually suitable for whole blood cell counting or blood biochemical analysis.
Precautions for the use of heparin lithium and EDTA
1. To ensure sufficient anticoagulation of blood, both heparin lithium tube and EDTA tube should be inverted and mixed 5-8 times immediately after blood collection, and it is important not to shake excessively to cause blood cell rupture.
2. Both heparin and EDTA tubes are non irreversible anticoagulants, and the experiment should be completed within a short period of time. Typically, heparin tubes are completed within 6 hours, while EDTA tubes are completed within 24 hours. Remember not to leave them for too long, as it may lead to abnormal results.
3. Note that there are differences in the dosage of the two types of tubes. According to industry standards, the dosage range for heparin lithium tubes is 9.4IU-28IU per milliliter of blood sample, while the standard dosage for EDTA potassium is 1.5-2.2mg per milliliter of blood.
Both heparin lithium and EDTA are important anticoagulants in clinical practice. When choosing anticoagulants, it is necessary to weigh them based on specific applications, experimental types, and possible interference factors. Correct selection and use are beneficial to ensure that experimental results do not deviate. As a manufacturer of heparin lithium, Desheng provides raw material powder of analytical purity level, without impurity interference, and is easy to preserve and prepare. It can be added in batches to blood collection vessels to improve efficiency. If you have any interest, please feel free to click on the website and contact us anytime to purchase!
