What impact does anticoagulant use have on blood samples?

Anticoagulant use in blood samples primarily serves the purpose of preventing clotting. When blood is drawn for various laboratory tests, the presence of anticoagulants ensures that the blood remains in a liquid state and can be accurately analyzed. This is crucial for tests that require the measurement of various components in plasma or whole blood, as clotting would otherwise lead to the formation of a clot and the separation of serum from the cellular components, potentially skewing the results.

Anticoagulants such as EDTA, heparin, and citrate work by inhibiting the coagulation cascade. By preventing the activation of clotting factors, these substances allow for the preservation of the sample and facilitate the reliable measurement of blood parameters. This prevention of clotting is particularly important for tests such as complete blood counts, coagulation studies, and certain chemistry tests, where the integrity of the liquid state of the sample is essential for accurate analysis.

While anticoagulants are critical for maintaining sample integrity, they do not inherently cause hemolysis, significantly alter pH levels, or increase viscosity. Each of these processes could affect sample quality, but the primary function of anticoagulants is to ensure the blood does not clot, thereby preserving the sample for testing.