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Comments for Platelet Clumping in Sodium Citrate

Platelet Clumping

At my previous institution we implemented a protocol for recollecting samples with platelet clumping into a light yellow top (ACD) tube. Pediatric size tubes can be purchased from BD to minimize the volume of the recollect but because this tube contains liquid anticoagulant, the tube must be filled to obtain an accurate count. The correction factor for both platelets and wbc's is 1.17. Our experience was that this resolved the problem in >98% of cases of platelet clumping in EDTA. Although both sodium citrate and sodium heparin are viable alternatives, our experience with these options yielded a much lower instance of clumping resolution. Vortexing does seem to work in a number of cases too. My suggestion would be to vortex first, along with making a new smear and if clumping is not resolved, recollect in a tube color of your choice ! (I think ACD is best)

posted by erickspm at Wednesday, January-07-2009 12:03pm

Platelet clumps

Hi In our lab,(Hospital São Lucas- Pontifícia Universidade Católica do RGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil) we solve this problem, taking a tube sample vortex homogenization, in the EDTA samples, for 3 minutes. Further count is realized in the automated counter ( Syxmex XT2000i). We make a blood smear and look for platelet clumps. Most of ocasions, the platelet are separeted and the count return to normal values.

posted by Tereza at Monday, October-27-2008 09:39am