What is the Sodium Citrate in Coagulation Tube/ Blue top tube?

Sodium Citrate is the sodium salt of citric acid. It is a white, crystalline powder or white, the granular crystal that deliquesces somewhat in wet air. It is easily soluble in water but almost insoluble in alcohol. It tastes sour, similar to citric acid. From a medical perspective, it functions as an alkalinizing agent. It functions by balancing out excess acid in the blood and urine. It is also an anticoagulant for blood collection tubes.

What does Sodium Citrate do in the Coagulation Tube (Blue vacutainer)?

Anti-coagulation is the process of stopping the blood from clotting. Sodium citrate is one of the anticoagulants in vitro. Its anticoagulant mechanism is that the citrate ion contained in sodium citrate can react with the calcium ion in the blood to form soluble calcium citrate, which is soluble in water but not easy to dissociate. It can inhibit the coagulation process and thus prevent blood coagulation. Compared with EDTA and heparin lithium, sodium citrate is reversible when used as an anticoagulant, and it can reverse with the addition of calcium. The Blood additive ratio is 9:1. The ratio of blood to anti-coagulation is critical for valid prothrombin time.

Coagulation Tube (Blue vacutainer)

What is the effect of sodium citrate on blood?

Blood products contain sodium citrate anticoagulant, which binds ionized calcium and may cause transitory hypocalcemia in high volume transfusions, particularly when fresh frozen plasma is used. Citrate is broken down into bicarbonate, which can cause alkalosis and consequent hypokalemia.

What is the double-wall blood coagulation tube(Blue top tube)?

Golden Vac^TM blue-top blood tubes specially designed with double walls are made of polypropylene(PP) and polyethylene terephthalate(PET). Polypropylene is ideal for sensitive coagulation parameters due to its nonreactive characteristics. The inner tube is made of polypropylene and prevents the evaporation of liquid. The outer tube is made of polyethylene terephthalate and ensures a long shelf-life for the vacuum.

Double-wall Tubes (blue top tube)

What is the usage of a coagulation tube (Blue vacutainer)?

a. Coagulation (clotting process-P.T)

b. PT (Prothrombin Time – evaluates the extrinsic system of the coagulation cascade & monitors coumadin therapy)

c. APTT/ PTT (Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time – evaluates the intrinsic system of the coagulation cascade & monitors heparin therapy)

d. FDP (Fibrinogen Degradation Products)

e. TT (Thrombin Time)

f. Factor assays

g. Platelet function

What is the attention when using the coagulation tubes (Blue top blood tube)?

The original blood collection tube needs to be thrown away when using a butterfly wing needle to only collect sodium citrate anticoagulated specimens. The used blood collection tube is used to pre-fill the blood collection kit's line, which does not need to be completely filled. The reason for this is that the coagulation blood collection tube test has specific volume requirements for blood specimens. If the first tube is a blood collection tube used for direct coagulation, the air in the hose will take up some of the negative pressure, resulting in insufficient blood drawing.

Reference:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/nursing-and-health-professions/citrate-sodium

https://www.blood-academy.com/coagulation-collection-tube-and-anticoagulant/

https://www.loginstep.co/

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