What is the difference between the anticoagulation mechanism of heparin and EDTA?

There are many types of blood anticoagulants, and two of them are used more frequently. They are "heparin" and "EDTA". These two products each have a variety of models and specifications. Although the corresponding functions are not very different, there are also certain differences, and we will understand the differences between them together below.

The anticoagulation tube is to avoid blood clotting, and blood clotting is mainly formed by three reasons:

1. The formation of prothrombin activator;
2. The prothrombin activator turns prothrombin into active thrombin with the participation of calcium ions;
3. Soluble fibrinogen is transformed into insoluble fibrin under the action of thrombin.
Fibrin is shaped like filaments, criss-crossed, and collects a large number of blood cells to form a jelly-like blood clot. This is how coagulation occurs.

Anticoagulant mechanism of heparin:

The heparin anticoagulation tube has a green cap, and heparin is added to the blood collection tube. Heparin has the physical and chemical properties of strong negative charge, which can interfere with many links of the blood coagulation process, and has anticoagulant effects both in vivo and in vitro. Its mechanism of action is relatively complicated, mainly through the combination with antithrombin III (AT-III), which enhances the latter's inhibitory effect on activated coagulation factors IIa, IXa, XIa, XIa and XIa. The consequences involve preventing platelet aggregation and destruction, preventing the formation of thrombin-activating enzyme; preventing prothrombin from turning into thrombin; inhibiting thrombin, thereby preventing fibrinogen from turning into fibrin. Neutralize tissue thromboplastin (factor III). Inhibit the aggregation and release of platelets. It is suitable for red blood cell fragility test, blood gas analysis, hematocrit test, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and general energy biochemical determination, not suitable for blood coagulation test. Excessive heparin can cause the accumulation of white blood cells and cannot be used for white blood cell counting. It is not suitable for white blood cell classification because it can stain the blood slice with a light blue background.

The anticoagulant mechanism of EDTA:

EDTA anticoagulation tube purple cap, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA, molecular weight 292) and its salt are an amino polycarboxylic acid, which can effectively chelate calcium ions in blood samples, chelate calcium or react calcium Removal will block and terminate the endogenous or exogenous coagulation process, thereby preventing the blood specimen from clotting. Suitable for general hematology tests, not suitable for coagulation tests and platelet function tests, and not suitable for the determination of calcium ion, potassium ion, sodium ion, iron ion, alkaline phosphatase, creatine kinase and leucine aminopeptidase , Suitable for PCR test.

Therefore, the anticoagulant reactions of these two anticoagulants are different. For example, EDTA is a calcium chelator that reversibly binds to the Ca ions in the plasma to prevent blood clotting, while heparin acts with a kind of thrombin to prevent the coagulation pathway.

Hubei Xindesheng Materials Co., Ltd. has been specialized in the production and research of blood collection tube additives for decades. The company's heparin and EDTA are the company's core products, and it has a professional R&D team management. In addition to blood collection tube additives, our company also produces other reagent products, such as: biological buffers, chemiluminescence reagents, chromogen substrates, enzyme preparations, carbomers, virus preservation solutions and other products. If you are interested in understanding our products, you can enter our official website and contact customer service for details. Hubei Xindesheng welcomes your visit.