Description
Trisodium citrate is used as an anticoagulant for coagulation investigations. It works as an anticoagulant by forming complexes with metal ions such as calcium inhibiting the coagulation cascade. Anticoagulation with trisodium citrate is reversible.
BD Vacutainer® Citrate Tubes contain buffered citrate in accordance with recommendations:
- 0.105 M or 0.109 M of buffered trisodium citrate solution, equivalent to 3.2% trisodium citrate
The blood to additive ratio is 9:1
BD Vacutainer® Citrate Tubes are also suitable for carrying out special test procedures such as the platelet function test PFA-100®. Special tubes and the associated additional costs are therefore unnecessary.
BD Vacutainer® Plus (plastic) Citrate Tubes
The Plus citrate tubes feature innovative Tube geometry that minimises tube headspace and associated platelet
activation to optimise APTT monitoring of unfractionated heparin patients.
BD Vacutainer® Plus Citrate Tubes combine the following advantages:
- Clinically equivalent performance to the recognised global ‘Gold Standard’, the 4.5mL BD Vacutainer® Glass Buffered Citrate tube.
- Clinically proven in multi-centre clinical trials for coagulation testing across all major patient populations.
- Evaluated with the most widely used coagulation analytical systems.
Fill line marking
The significance of the correct ratio of blood to additive for coagulation samples is well documented. The correct fill amount is critical for correct coagulation analysis. All BD Vacutainer® Plus plastic coagulation tubes have a mark indicating the minimum fill level.
Centrifuging conditions:
For coagulation analyses different plasma specifications can be obtained from the citrated blood
- Platelet rich plasma: 150-200 g for 5 minutes at 18-25°C
- Platelet poor plasma: 2000-2500 g for 10-15 minutes at 18-25°C
- Platelet free plasma: >3000 g for 15-30 minutes at 18-25°C
