Adjusting
Blood to sodium citrate - 1
Condition requiring adjustment:
When the hematocrit (hct) >55%
Effect of high
hematocrit:
Specimen will contain less plasma
and thus less Ca++ which will cause a prolonged
clotting time
What
correction must be made:
A tube containing less sodium
citrate must be used
Calaculating
amount of sodium citrate required:
C = (0.00185) (100 – Hct) (V)
Example:
A patient with a Hct – 60% needs 4.5
ml blood drawn
C = (0.00185) (100 – 60) (4.5)
C = 0.3 ml sodium citrate needed