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Dry electrolyte-balanced heparinized syringes evaluated for determining ionized calcium and other electrolytes in whole blood.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Toffaletti, J; Ernst, P; Hunt, P; Abrams, B
Published in: Clin Chem
October 1991

By analyzing whole blood containing no anticoagulants (uncoagulated whole blood) immediately after collection, we evaluated the relative changes in the concentrations of ionized calcium and other electrolytes in whole blood collected in dry heparinized syringes and in serum prepared from blood collected in evacuated blood-collection tubes. Using these dry heparinized syringes, we collected and analyzed whole blood that contained either 33 or 13 int. units of lithium heparin or 40 int. units of electrolyte-balanced heparin per milliliter of blood. We evaluated the effects both of these heparins at different concentrations of ionized calcium and of the incomplete filling of the syringes. We conclude that: (a) when analyzed within 2-3 min after collection, uncoagulated whole blood provides ionized calcium results unaffected by anticoagulants or cellular metabolism; (b) the preparation of serum unpredictably changes ionized calcium; (c) the use of dry electrolyte-balanced heparin virtually eliminates the interference in ionized calcium concentrations between 0.9 and 1.6 mmol/L; and (d) incomplete filling of electrolyte-balanced heparinized syringes produces no effect in syringes two-thirds full (60 int. units/mL heparin concentration) and a small effect in syringes one-third full (120 int. units/mL heparin).

Duke Scholars

Published In

Clin Chem

ISSN

0009-9147

Publication Date

October 1991

Volume

37

Issue

10 Pt 1

Start / End Page

1730 / 1733

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Syringes
  • Sodium
  • Radiometry
  • Potassium
  • Middle Aged
  • Humans
  • Heparin
  • General Clinical Medicine
  • Evaluation Studies as Topic
  • Calcium
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Toffaletti, J., Ernst, P., Hunt, P., & Abrams, B. (1991). Dry electrolyte-balanced heparinized syringes evaluated for determining ionized calcium and other electrolytes in whole blood. Clin Chem, 37(10 Pt 1), 1730–1733.
Toffaletti, J., P. Ernst, P. Hunt, and B. Abrams. “Dry electrolyte-balanced heparinized syringes evaluated for determining ionized calcium and other electrolytes in whole blood.Clin Chem 37, no. 10 Pt 1 (October 1991): 1730–33.
Toffaletti, J., et al. “Dry electrolyte-balanced heparinized syringes evaluated for determining ionized calcium and other electrolytes in whole blood.Clin Chem, vol. 37, no. 10 Pt 1, Oct. 1991, pp. 1730–33.
Toffaletti J, Ernst P, Hunt P, Abrams B. Dry electrolyte-balanced heparinized syringes evaluated for determining ionized calcium and other electrolytes in whole blood. Clin Chem. 1991 Oct;37(10 Pt 1):1730–1733.

Published In

Clin Chem

ISSN

0009-9147

Publication Date

October 1991

Volume

37

Issue

10 Pt 1

Start / End Page

1730 / 1733

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Syringes
  • Sodium
  • Radiometry
  • Potassium
  • Middle Aged
  • Humans
  • Heparin
  • General Clinical Medicine
  • Evaluation Studies as Topic
  • Calcium