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BACKGROUND: Use of the anticoagulant EDTA, in high-concentration liquid form, in blood collection tubes can lead to cross-contamination of routine biochemistry specimens. METHODS: In the present study, tests affected by EDTA in the sample were potassium, calcium, magnesium, unsaturated iron-binding capacity, bicarbonate, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, alkaline phosphatase and amylase. The likely mechanisms are discussed. CONCLUSIONS: In the interests of best practice, the identification of subtle contamination of blood specimens for biochemical analysis requires a sensitive method for measurement of EDTA itself.
D F Davidson (Wed,) studied this question.