SODIUM CITRATE (NAC) - DISADVANTAGES

Sodium citrate is the anticoagulant of choice for studies of platelet function and morphology. The standard concentration is 1 part 3.8% solutions to parts of blood, (Schalms; 2006) . For coagulation studies a volume of blood is added to 1 volume of 109mmo1/l sodium citrate solution (Ingram and Hills 1976). For erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), 4 volumes of blood are added   to 1 volume of the sodium citrate solution (109mmol/L) and immediately mixed with it (international committee for standardization in haematology:  1977). These are some
of the uses   of sodium citrate.

Disadvantages of Sodium Citrate;
1.      It interferes with many chemical tests
2.      It has a tendency to shrink cells
3.      Because of a  10% dilution of  blood,  sodium  citrate is  generally not used for complete blood  count (CBC)  (Schalms; 2006) 

For many years, citrate was the anticoagulant preferred by most investigators undertaking platelet studies (Zelmanovic et al, 1998),  this is mainly because sodium citrate causes less spontaneous activation of  platelets in  vitro but EDTA does (Golanski et al; 1996). a high concentration of  sodium citrate in blood  samples decreases plasma concentration of ionized calcium resulting in reduced  platelet aggregation and  fibrinogen binding. (Am Jvet Res; 2001). When   blood is collected into citrate, there is initially little or no change in platelet shape  and volume, however in  citrate, platelets  adopt a spherical shape  and volume, however in citrate, platelets adopt  a spherical shape  (Macey et al,  1999)  and as in EDTA, swell progressively over   a period of   1 -  2 hours  (3-10% increase in volume by impedance  procedures, depending on the concentration of sodium  citrate used (Threatte el al;  1984;  Bath; 1993 and Jackson  and Carter,  1993) . citrate-base  anticoagulants have  been  used for their determination of platelet indices in the ADVIA 120  (Macey et  al 1999 and Zelmanovic et al 1998) they   suggested that platelet sphering may not  be essential for  the analysis. As cited from (Clin Lab,  1990 )  analysis of the mean platelet volume (MPV) showed significant lower   values  in  the citrated samples as compared to the  same examples  in EDTA.
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