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Abstract Background This research paper presents a thorough comparison of the anticoagulant properties of K2EDTA in two multinational vacutainer brands, “DBO” by Schraubg and “BD” by Becton, Dickinson, with a specific focus on critical hematological parameters. The study encompassed the analysis of 50 samples, spanning a wide range of values from 60 fl to 110 fl, evaluating key parameters such as Hemoglobin (Hb), Hematocrit (HCT), Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC), and Red Blood Cell (RBC) count. Methods Peripheral blood samples were gathered from 50 outpatient participants using the specified tubes. The samples underwent assessment for six hematological analytes, including RBC Count, hemoglobin, HCT, MCV, MCH, and MCHC. Comparative analysis was performed using the paired t-test. Differences exceeding the total allowable error were considered clinically significant. To assess stability, initial results were compared with those obtained from samples preserved for a duration of 2 hours Results Our findings indicate that the use of “DBO” vacutainers resulted in slightly higher values for Hb, HCT, MCV, MCHC, and RBC count compared to the “BD” vacutainers. Notably, the statistical significance was observed in MCV, HCT, and MCHC across nearly all samples, while Hb and RBC parameters showed no significant changes. Given the crucial role of K2EDTA as an anticoagulant in maintaining the hypotonicity of Red Blood Cells (RBCs), ensuring accurate hematological analyses is imperative. Conclusions Although the T-value for Hemoglobin did not exhibit statistical significance, the study identified notable differences in Hematocrit (HCT) and Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV). This underscores the importance of selecting the appropriate vacutainer brand to ensure reliability and accuracy in hematological measurements, particularly when assessing MCV, where even slight variations can carry clinical implications. The results underscore the necessity for clinicians and laboratories to carefully consider the choice of vacutainers based on their specific requirements and the critical nature of the hematological parameters under analysis.
Patel et al. (Tue,) studied this question.