Sodium citrate cbc for platelett correction?

Question

Where can I find the calculations to convert the cbc ran on sodium citrate tubes?

Or is this by analyzer?

Answer 1

the best thing to do is check the operator instrumentation manual to see if you can use the sodium citrate.  on some analyzers the problem is a crystal precipitate from the reagents.  if there is a conversion formula.. it should be in the manual.  in 23 years i haven't seen a formula to convert for using a blue top.  either you can run it or you can't.  it would be better to use a pink top(K2 EDTA) or even a green top (heparin)  if a purple (EDTA) isn't available.  I've worked in multiple facilities and we only use the blue (na citrate) for coags.

Answer 2

The only time we use sodium citrate tubes for a CBC is for the platelet count when the platelets are clumped in the EDTA tube.  The other values for the CBC are taken from the EDTA tube; only the platelet value is taken from the blue top tube.