Effect of different anticoagulant on red cell osmotic fragility test

Objective To investigate the effect of anticoagulative blood samples with EDTA-K2,sodium citrate and lithium-heparin on red cell osmotic fragility test result.Methods 40 EDTA-K2,sodium citrate and lithium-heparin treated blood samples were tested for red cell osmotic fragility.The rest of blood was confected into 50% red cell suspensions after three times washing-up by 0.9% saline for red cell osmotic fragility test.At the same time,the blood samples for controlled trials were free from anticoagulant.Results The red cell osmotic fragility of EDTA-K2 treated blood was obviously higher than the controlled trials,even after washing-up.To some extent,sodium citrate and lithium-heparin treated blood could affect the results.However,it showed there was no significant difference compared with the control group after washing-up.Conclusion Sodium citrate treated and lithium-heparin treated blood samples can be used for red cell osmotic fragility test after washing-up by saline but not EDTA-K2 treated blood.