The role of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) as in vitro anticoagulant for diagnostic purposes
-
Giuseppe Banfi
Abstract
Anticoagulants are used to prevent clot formation both in vitro and in vivo. In the specific field of in vitro diagnostics, anticoagulants are commonly added to collection tubes either to maintain blood in the fluid state for hematological testing or to obtain suitable plasma for coagulation and clinical chemistry analyses. Unfortunately, no universal anticoagulant that could be used for evaluation of several laboratory parameters in a sample from a single test tube is available so far. Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) is a polyprotic acid containing four carboxylic acid groups and two amine groups with lone-pair electrons that chelate calcium and several other metal ions. Calcium is necessary for a wide range of enzyme reactions of the coagulation cascade and its removal irreversibly prevents blood clotting within the collection tube. Historically, EDTA has been recommended as the anticoagulant of choice for hematological testing because it allows the best preservation of cellular components and morphology of blood cells. The remarkable expansion in laboratory test volume and complexity over recent decades has amplified the potential spectrum of applications for this anticoagulant, which can be used to stabilize blood for a variety of traditional and innovative tests. Specific data on the behavior of EDTA as an anticoagulant in hematology, including possible pitfalls, are presented. The use of EDTA for measuring cytokines, protein and peptides, and cardiac markers is described, with an outline of the protection of labile molecules provided by this anticoagulant. The use of EDTA in proteomics and in general clinical chemistry is also described in comparison with other anticoagulants and with serum samples. Finally, the possible uses of alternative anticoagulants instead of EDTA and the potential use of a universal anticoagulant are illustrated.
Clin Chem Lab Med 2007;45:565–76.
©2007 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York
Artikel in diesem Heft
- 6th Conference on Homocysteine Metabolism, World Congress on Hyperhomocysteinemia, Saarbruecken/Germany June 5-9, 2007
- The role of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) as in vitro anticoagulant for diagnostic purposes
- Cervical screening in the 21st century: the case for human papillomavirus testing of self-collected specimens
- Influence of apolipoprotein E polymorphism on serum lipid and lipoprotein changes: a 21-year follow-up study from childhood to adulthood. The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study
- Association of lipase lipoprotein polymorphisms with myocardial infarction and lipid levels
- Validation of a reverse-hybridization StripAssay for the simultaneous analysis of common α-thalassemia point mutations and deletions
- HLA-DQA1 and -DQB1 allele typing in southern Taiwanese women with breast cancer
- Association of a polymorphism in the promoter of the cellular retinoic acid-binding protein II gene (CRABP2) with increased circulating low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
- Frequency of two human glutathione-S-transferase omega-1 polymorphisms (E155 deletion and E208K) in Ovambo and Japanese populations using the PCR-based genotyping method
- Transthyretin amyloidosis in a patient of Iranian-Jewish extraction: a second Israeli-Jewish case
- Relationship between neurological outcome and early oxidative changes in erythrocytes in head injury patients
- Mesothelin family proteins and diagnosis of mesothelioma: analytical evaluation of an automated immunoassay and preliminary clinical results
- Prevalence of insulin resistance and prediction of glucose intolerance and type 2 diabetes mellitus in women with polycystic ovary syndrome
- A simple high-throughput method for the determination of plasma methylmalonic acid by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry
- Effects of gestational and lactational choline deprivation on brain antioxidant status, acetylcholinesterase, (Na+,K+)- and Mg2+-ATPase activities in offspring rats
- Use of novel serum markers in clinical follow-up of Sertoli-Leydig cell tumours
- Measurement of calcitonin by immunoassay analyzers
- Interference in a homogeneous assay for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by lipoprotein X
- Quality indicators and specifications for key processes in clinical laboratories: a preliminary experience
- Analytical and clinical performance of three natriuretic peptide tests in the emergency room
- Quality of serum creatinine measurement in light of EQA programs
- Decreased plasmalogen concentration as a surrogate marker of oxidative stress in patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes or supraventricular tachycardias
- Comparison between AlaTOP and IP8 inhalant panels on the Immulite 2000 analyzer
- External quality assessment of urinary methylmalonic acid quantification – results of a pilot study
Artikel in diesem Heft
- 6th Conference on Homocysteine Metabolism, World Congress on Hyperhomocysteinemia, Saarbruecken/Germany June 5-9, 2007
- The role of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) as in vitro anticoagulant for diagnostic purposes
- Cervical screening in the 21st century: the case for human papillomavirus testing of self-collected specimens
- Influence of apolipoprotein E polymorphism on serum lipid and lipoprotein changes: a 21-year follow-up study from childhood to adulthood. The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study
- Association of lipase lipoprotein polymorphisms with myocardial infarction and lipid levels
- Validation of a reverse-hybridization StripAssay for the simultaneous analysis of common α-thalassemia point mutations and deletions
- HLA-DQA1 and -DQB1 allele typing in southern Taiwanese women with breast cancer
- Association of a polymorphism in the promoter of the cellular retinoic acid-binding protein II gene (CRABP2) with increased circulating low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
- Frequency of two human glutathione-S-transferase omega-1 polymorphisms (E155 deletion and E208K) in Ovambo and Japanese populations using the PCR-based genotyping method
- Transthyretin amyloidosis in a patient of Iranian-Jewish extraction: a second Israeli-Jewish case
- Relationship between neurological outcome and early oxidative changes in erythrocytes in head injury patients
- Mesothelin family proteins and diagnosis of mesothelioma: analytical evaluation of an automated immunoassay and preliminary clinical results
- Prevalence of insulin resistance and prediction of glucose intolerance and type 2 diabetes mellitus in women with polycystic ovary syndrome
- A simple high-throughput method for the determination of plasma methylmalonic acid by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry
- Effects of gestational and lactational choline deprivation on brain antioxidant status, acetylcholinesterase, (Na+,K+)- and Mg2+-ATPase activities in offspring rats
- Use of novel serum markers in clinical follow-up of Sertoli-Leydig cell tumours
- Measurement of calcitonin by immunoassay analyzers
- Interference in a homogeneous assay for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by lipoprotein X
- Quality indicators and specifications for key processes in clinical laboratories: a preliminary experience
- Analytical and clinical performance of three natriuretic peptide tests in the emergency room
- Quality of serum creatinine measurement in light of EQA programs
- Decreased plasmalogen concentration as a surrogate marker of oxidative stress in patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes or supraventricular tachycardias
- Comparison between AlaTOP and IP8 inhalant panels on the Immulite 2000 analyzer
- External quality assessment of urinary methylmalonic acid quantification – results of a pilot study
