What anticoagulant is used to determine activated partial thromboplastin time and one-stage prothrombin time?

Study for the VTNE Laboratory Procedures Test. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question offers hints and explanations, enabling increased understanding and retention. Prepare effectively for your exam!

Multiple Choice

What anticoagulant is used to determine activated partial thromboplastin time and one-stage prothrombin time?

Explanation:
Coagulation tests like APTT and PT require plasma that hasn’t started to clot. An anticoagulant that does this job by preventing clot formation without permanently blocking the clotting factors is citrate. Sodium citrate binds calcium, stopping the cascade in the tube. When the test is run, calcium is then added back and the clotting reagents are used to measure the time to clot. That’s why citrate is the standard choice for these assays. Other options either act as anticoagulants in a way that would interfere with the test (heparin) or are intended for other tests (EDTA for cell counts; fluoride-oxalate for glucose) and would not yield accurate PT or APTT results.

Coagulation tests like APTT and PT require plasma that hasn’t started to clot. An anticoagulant that does this job by preventing clot formation without permanently blocking the clotting factors is citrate. Sodium citrate binds calcium, stopping the cascade in the tube. When the test is run, calcium is then added back and the clotting reagents are used to measure the time to clot.

That’s why citrate is the standard choice for these assays. Other options either act as anticoagulants in a way that would interfere with the test (heparin) or are intended for other tests (EDTA for cell counts; fluoride-oxalate for glucose) and would not yield accurate PT or APTT results.

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