What question did this study set out to answer?

The research aims to evaluate whether CBC and differential results from MgSO4-anticoagulated tubes are comparable to those from K3-EDTA tubes, and to examine stability over 24 hours.

June 17, 2026Open Access

Comparison of Complete Blood Count Results Between K3-EDTA- and MgSO4-Anticoagulated Samples Using a DxH800 Analyzer

Key Points

The research aims to evaluate whether CBC and differential results from MgSO4-anticoagulated tubes are comparable to those from K3-EDTA tubes, and to examine stability over 24 hours.
355 patients were evaluated for CBC using K3-EDTA and MgSO4 samples.
Differentials were analyzed for 33 cases, with 10 patients re-analyzed at multiple time points after initial testing.
Results were compared using a DxH800 analyzer.
WBC count, hematocrit, and MCV were lower in MgSO4 samples compared to K3-EDTA tubes.
MPV was significantly lower in MgSO4 tubes, while MCHC was slightly higher.
Correlation between both anticoagulants was high, with MRBs below recommendations except for MCHC and MPV.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: In case of EDTA-induced pseudothrombocytopenia (PTCP), MgSO4-anticoagulated tubes are recommended for platelet counting, requiring the collection of an additional tube. The aim of this study was to analyze whether complete blood count (CBC) and differential performed on MgSO4-anticoagulated tubes were comparable to the results obtained on K3-EDTA samples, and to characterize the stability of the CBC over a 24 h period. Methods: In 355 patients (70 with a confirmed PTCP and 285 without PTCP), we compared CBC results obtained on K3-EDTA- and MgSO4-anticoagulated tubes, using DxH800 analyzers. In 33 cases, a differential was available for both anticoagulants, and for 10 patients, samples were re-analyzed 6, 12, and 24 h after the first determination. Results: In the presence or absence of clumps, white blood cell (WBC) count, hematocrit, and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) were slightly lower in MgSO4 than in K3-EDTA tubes, whereas mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) was slightly higher. Mean platelet volume (MPV) was significantly lower on MgSO4- than on K3-EDTA-anticoagulated tubes. Values were highly correlated between both anticoagulants, and mean relative biases (MRBs) were below Ricos’s recommendations, except for MCHC and MPV. For differential, neutrophils were significantly lower on MgSO4- in comparison to K3-EDTA-anticoagulated tubes (MRB = −2.9%, below Ricos’s optimal bias). The morphology of white blood cells (WBCs) was similar on both anticoagulants. During storage at room temperature, MCV and red cell distribution width increased slightly, but the increase was more pronounced in K3-EDTA than in MgSO4 tubes. Conclusions: CBC and differentials obtained with the DxH 800 analyzer on MgSO4-anticoagulated samples are similar to those obtained with K3-EDTA, except for MPV.

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