What is EDTA (the anticoagulant) in a lavender top blood collection tube?

EDTA stands for ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. It has a very strong affinity for calcium ions in aqueous solutions. When blood is drawn into a tube containing EDTA, calcium ions in the blood are almost irreversibly bound to the molecules of EDTA. Calcium ions are a critical component in the biochemical cascade that results in blood clotting. The EDTA makes the calcium ions unavailable, hence the blood will not clot.



EDTA and related chemicals are known as chelating agents (the term is derived from the Greek word for "claw") because of their high affinity particularly for metals such as copper and lead. EDTA is sometimes administered intravenously in cases of acute lead or mercury poisoning; the metal binds strongly to the molecules of EDTA, and the EDTA-metal complexes are excreted via the kidneys. Such treatment begun soon after exposure to lead may prevent nervous system damage and minimize deposition of lead in the bones, where it is stored and slowly released over long periods of time if not gotten rid of.

What is EDTA (the anticoagulant) in a lavender top blood collection tube?
EDTA IS AN ANTICOAGULANT MEANS WHICH PREVENRT BLOOD TO CLOT AND ITS FULL FORM IS ETHYLENE DIAMINE TETRA AMINOACID(EDTA) AND USUALLY THE LAVENDER TOP BLOOD COLLETION TUBE HAS IT
Reply:EDTA stands for ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. This is used in lavender top tubes to prevent a blood sample from clotting. This enables the blood to be analyzed for a CBC or other kinds of testing. If the sample was clotted, all of the red cells, white cells, platelets, etc would be bound in the clot and it would be impossible to get an accurate count.