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Question 1

Blood Collection Additive Forms

Answer 1

1. Liquid
2. Spray-dried
3. Powder forms – powdered additives should be tapped prior to use to settle the additive to the bottom of the tube

Question 2

How many times must an additive tube be gently inverted?

Answer 2

3 to 10 times, depending on the type of additive and the manufacturer

Question 3

How many degrees does each inversion require?

Answer 3

180 degrees and back again turning the wrist

Question 4

What should you never do in line with additive forms?

Answer 4

Never shake or otherwise vigorously mix a specimen, as this can cause hemolysis, which makes most specimens unsuitable for testing.

Question 5

Different Additive Types in Blood Collection Additives:

Answer 5

1. Anticoagulants
2. Special-use anticoagulants
3. Antiglycotic agents
4. Clot activators
5. Thixotropic gel separator
6. Trace element-free tubes

Question 6

• prevents blood from clotting through chelating (or binding) or precipitating calcium so it is unavailable to the coagulation process; inhibition of thrombin formation needed to convert fibrinogen to fibrin in the coagulation cascade.
• Common examples: Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA),
  Citrates, Heparin and Oxalates

Answer 6

Anticoagulants

Question 7

• These are combined with other additives and have additional properties for special-use situations
• Examples: Acid Citrate Dextrose (ACD); Citrate Phosphate Dextrose (CPD); Sodium Polyanethol Sulfonate (SPS)

Answer 7

Special-use Anticoagulants

Question 8

• Substance that prevents glycolysis (breakdown or metabolism of glucose/blood sugar by blood cells)
• If glycolysis is not prevented, the glucose concentration in a blood specimen decreases at a rate of 10 mg/dl per hour
• Glycolysis occurs faster in newborns because of increased metabolism and in patients with leukemia because of high metabolic activity of WBCs
• Example: Sodium fluoride

Answer 8

Antiglycotic Agents

Question 9

• Enhances coagulation in tubes used to collect serum specimens
• Includes: Silica (glass) particles, Thrombin

Answer 9

Clot Activators

Question 10

• Inert (non-reacting) synthetic substance initially contained in or near the bottom of certain blood collection tubes
• Gel density is between cell and serum/plasma.
• When a specimen in a gel tube is centrifuged, the gel undergoes a change in viscosity and moves to position between the cells and serum/plasma → barrier

Answer 10

Thixotropic gel separator