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SOME IN VITRO EFFECTS OF VARIOUS CONCENTRATIONS OF DISODIUM ETHYLENEDIAMINE TETRACETATE, POTASSIUM OXALATE, AND SODIUM CITRATE ON COAGULATION OF BLOOD J. F. MUSTARD, M.D., P H . D . Department of Veterans Affairs, Sunnybrook Hospital, and Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Knowledge of the effect of various concentrations ' of the anticoagulant salts on blood coagulation is essential in the collection and also in the preservation of samples of blood for the study of disorders of coagulation and in the collection and preparation of blood products for treating disorders of coagulation. Too little anticoagulant fails to prevent coagulation, and there is some evidence that too much anticoagulant impairs the activity of clotting factors, such as Factor-V. 6 ' u The concentrations of the anticoagulant salts required for maximum effectiveness in stabilizing the coagulation mechanism are not well known. The results of a study of this problem are reported in this communication. The effects of the various concentrations of disodium ethylenediamine tetracetate (EDTA), potassium oxalate, and trisodium citrate, on blood coagulation were assessed in the following manner: (1) the minimum concentration of anticoagulant necessary to prevent blood from clotting; (2) the effect on the thrombin fibrinogen reaction; (3) the effect on the 1-stage prothrombin time; (4) the effect on Factor-V and antihemophilic globulin (AHG) activity. Some characteristics of the effect of excessive amounts of anticoagulant were studied. The practical importance of variations in the concentration of citrate in acid citrate dextrose (ACD) solutions on Factor-V and AHG activity was also investigated. BLOOD SAMPLES Samples of blood were collected, using clean petrolatum (paraffin jelly) coated glass Received, May 26, 1958; revision received, June 20; accepted for publication August 18. Dr. Mustard is Fellow, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, and Research Fellow, Department of Veterans Affairs, Sunn3'brook Hospital. syringes and 18-gage needles. The samples of blood were placed in silicone-coated glass centrifuge tubes in the proportion of 9 parts of blood to 1 part of anticoagulant solution. With the exception of the study using the ACD solutions, the concentration of anticoagulant referred to in the test is that into which the sample of blood was taken. EDTA. The EDTA solutions used are outlined in Table 1. Trisodium citrate. The following citrate solutions were used: 50 mM, 75 mM, 100 mM, 160 mM, 200 mM, 300 mM, and 600 mM. Potassium oxalate. The following oxalate solutions were used: 10 mM, 20 mM, 30 mM, 50 mM, 100 mM, 200 mM, 300 mM, and 600 mM. Calcium chloride and barium chloride. These salts were made up in solutions of various concentrations. Imidazole buffer pH 7.8. 1.72 Gm. of imidazole were dissolved in 90 ml. of 0.1 N HC1 and diluted to 100 ml. with distilled water. ' Brain thromboplastin. This was prepared as described by Biggs and Macfarlane.5 Factor-V and antihemophilic globulin. Solutions of these factors were prepared by the method described by Biggs and Macfarlane.5 Thrombin. Thrombin solutions in 0.85 per cent saline were made from dried thrombin prepared and supplied by the Lister Institute, London, England. The strength used was 25 units per ml. One-stage prothrombin test and quantitative lest for Factor-V activity. These were performed as described previously.5 Dialysis. Plasma samples were dialyzed against 500 times as much 0.85 per cent saline at 4 C. for 12 hr. Thromboplastin generation tests. These were performed as described by Biggs and Douglas,4 with the following modifications: 49S Dec. 195S BLOOD 499 COAGULATION TABLE 2 TABLE 1 Molarity EDTA NaCI Distilled Water ffJAf Gm. Gm. ml. 12 15 18 24 30 60 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.8 1.0 2.0 0.74 0.72 0.69 0.64 0.59 0.33 100 100 100 100 100 100 1. Brain extract prepared by the method of Bell and Alton2 was used instead of platelet suspensions. 2. The aluminum hydroxide-adsorbed plasma (Al(OH)s-treated plasma) was diluted 1 in 5, using various proportions of buffer, saline, EDTA, and calcium chloride solutions. The quantities used are given with the results for each experimental study. AUG activity. This was determined by the method which has been described.8 pH. The p l i of plasma samples and test materials were determined by using a glass electrode universal pH meter (W. G. Pye Ltd., Cambridge). Blood stored in ACD solutions. Samples of blood were taken from a donor by a sterile technic and added to various ACD solutions containing from 1.5 to 4.25 Gm. disodium citrate per 120 ml. ACD solution. Four parts were added to 1 part ACD solution. The blood anticoagulant mixture was stored at 4 C. for 7 days. Baseline values for the coagulation tests were determined on blood taken into the various anticoagulants on the first day. RESULTS Minimum Concentration of Anticoagulant Necessary to Prevent Gross Evidence of Coagulation The minimum concentrations of the anticoagulants necessary to prevent gross evidence of coagulation were as follows: concentration of anticoagulant into which blood sample taken (1 part anticoagulant to 9 parts blood) EDTA: between 12 mM and 15 mM Oxalate: between 20 mM and 30 mM Citrate: between 50 mM and 75 mM THROMBIN FIBRINOGEN REACTION Time after Blood and Anticoagulant Mixed* Anticoagulant 1 hr. 6 hr 12 hr. Clotting time 0.1 ml. of thrombin added to 0.1 ml. of plasma sec. EDTAt 15 mM 30 mM 60 mM Oxalate 30 mM 100 mM 300 mM Citrate 100 mM 150 mM 300 mM 3.0 10.0 19.0 3.0 30.0 65.0 4.2 100.0 + 120.0 6.0 + 120.0 + 120.0 4.4 4.4 5.2 4.4 4.2 5.4 4.2 4.6 6.0 4.S 4.7 7.S 3.S 4.2 5.S 3.7 4.2 6.0 4.0 .4.S 10. S 4.3 5.6 22.0 * Plasma samples were left standing a t room temperature. f Ethylenediamine t e t r a c e t a t e . Thus, in terms of molality, approximately twice as much oxalate and 5 times as much citrate as EDTA were necessary to prevent gross coagulation. Thrombin fibrinogen reaction. Plasma prepared from blood taken into the minimum requirement of EDTA (15 mM) showed little change in the thrombin clotting time, whereas plasma prepared from blood taken into a greater concentration showed progressive prolongation of the thrombin clotting time (Table 2). This was also true for excess citrate, but the effect was much less marked than that observed with EDTA. Excess oxalate caused some prolongation, but the effect was less than that of citrate. The degree of change seemed to be related to the concentration of anticoagulant used and the length of time the anticoagulant was mixed with the plasma. Plasma pH values. The pH values of the plasma samples studied were observed to be similar. The tests were performed by using imidazole buffer pH 7.3, which kept the pH within a range of 7.28 to 7.35 during experiments which required the mixing of various materials. One-stage prothrombin test. The greater the amount of EDTA and oxalate above the 500 Vol. SO MUSTARD TABLE 3 TABLE 4 E F F E C T ON T H E PROLONGED 1-STAGE PROTHBOMBI N ONE-STAGE PROTHROMBIN T I M E T I M E OF PLASMA SAMPLES CONTAINING E X C E S S Time after Blood and Anticoagulant Mixed* Anticoagulant 30 min. 4 hr. 8 hr. PLASMA, OR CACL2 OF GREATER STRENGTH One-stage prothrombin time EDTAf 15 mM 30 mM 60 mM Oxalate 30 mM 100 mM 200 rail Citrate 100 mM 150 mM 300 mM ANTICOAGULANT OF ADDING S E R U M OR A L ( O H ) 3 TREATED sec. sec. sec. 13.0 15.0 16.0 12.S 16.0 16.5 12.4 17.5 20.0 14.5 15.0 15.0 14.5 16.0 20.0 14.5 19.0 28.0 14.0 13.5 16.0 13.0 13.0 17.0 11.5 12.8 19.5 Material Added to Plasma Calcium Anticoagulant M/10 M/20 M/40 §1 < One-stage prothrombin time sec. EDTA,* 60 mM 25.0 Oxalate, 200 28.0 mM Citrate, 300 24.0 mM sec. sec. sec. sec. 22.0 26.0 19.0 26.0 15.0 17.0 19.0 27.0 21.0 18.0 15.0 IS.5 * Ethylenediamine t e t r a c e t a t e . * Plasma samples were left standing a t room temperature. | Ethylenediamine t e t r a c e t a t e . minimum required to prevent gross coagulation, the more unstable was the 1-stage prothrombin (Table 3). The concentration of anticoagulant used and the length of time the anticoagulant was mixed with the plasma were factors in determining the degree of prolongation of the 1-stage prothrombin time. Samples of plasma prepared from blood taken into citrate concentration slightly greater than the minimum necessary to prevent gross coagulation revealed acceleration of the prothrombin time, rather than prolongation. If greater amounts of citrate were used, however, the prothrombin times for the plasma samples were prolonged (Table 3). The prolonged prothrombin times of samples of plasma containing excess anticoagulant were not accelerated by the use of calcium solutions of greater strength. The prolonged prothrombin times were accelerated by the addition of 20 per cent of normal Al(OH) 3 -treated citrate (3.8 per cent) plasma, but not by the addition of 20 per cent of normal serum (Table 4). Activity of Al{OH) ^-treated plasma in the thromboplastin generation test. The greater the concentration of EDTA used in comparison to the minimum requirement, the less was the activity of the Al(OH) 3 -treated plasma in the thromboplastin generation test (Fig. 1). This was also true for oxalate. Blood taken into the minimum concentration of citrate, however, lost activity. For citrate there appeared to be an optimum concentration that prevented loss of activity. This was approximately twice the minimum concentration necessary to prevent gross coagulation. Citrate concentration greater than the optimum caused a loss of activity (Fig. 1). The decrease in activity of A1(0 Untreated plasma containing excess anticoagulant was related to the length of time the anticoagulant was mixed with the plasma. Thus, after standing for 12 hr. at room temperature, Al(OH) 3 -treated plasma prepared from blood taken into 30 mM EDTA (twice minimum), 300 mM citrate (4 times minimum and twice optimum), and 100 mM oxalate (3 times minimum) had very little activity in the thromboplastin generation test (Fig. 2). The addition of a Factor-V solution to these plasma samples 12 hr. after preparation produced some improvement in their thromboplastin activity. Following the addition of an AHG solution there was considerable improvement in the activity of these plasma samples. This suggests that the change in activity is due, in part, to loss of Factor-V and AHG activity. Dec. 1958 BLOOD 501 COAGULATION CITRATE INCUBATION TIME - MINUTES F I G . 1. Thromboplastin activity of Al(OH) 3 -treated plasma prepared from blood taken into various amounts of E D T A , oxalate, and citrate. T h e tests were performed S hr. after the blood was collected. The control test in each instance is indicated by the curve O O . The Al(OH) 3 -treated plasma used in this test was prepared from blood taken into 3.S per cent citrate. The treated plasma was diluted as follows: Al(OH) 3 -treated plasma, 0.06 ml.; buffer pH 7.3, 0.06 ml.; 0.S5 per cent saline solution, 0.1S ml. T h e Al(OH) 3 -treated plasma prepared from the blood samples taken into the various anticoagulants were used in place of the 3.8 per cent citrate plasma in the test system. The concentration of anticoagulant into which each of the blood samples was taken is indicated with the curve for the corresponding Al(OH) 3 -troated plasma sample • •. INGIBATION TIME - MINUTES F i d . 2. Change in the thromboplastin activity of Al(OH) 3 -treated plasma prepared from blood taken into excess amounts of E D T A , oxalate, and citrate during a period of 12 hr. The Al(OH) 3 -treatcd plasma samples were diluted as described for Figure 1. The effect of adding solutions of AHG and Factor-V to the Al(OH) 3 treated samples of plasma after 12 hr. is also indicated O O . When adding Factor-V or the AHG solutions, the Al(OH) 3 -treated samples of plasma were prepared for the tost as follows : Al(OH) 3 -treated plasma (12-hr. sample), 0.06 ml.; buffer pH 7.3, 0.06 ml.; Factor-V or AHG solution, 0.06 nil.; 0.85 per cent saline solution, 0.12 ml. 502 Vol. SO MUSTARD Some Characteristics of the Effect of Excess Anticoagulants on the Thrombin Fibrinogen Reaction and the Thromboplastin Activity of Al(OH)3-treated Plasma TABLE 5 F A C T O R - V AND A H G * ACTIVITY Anticoagulant EDTAf 15 mM 30 mM 60 mM Oxalate 30 mM 100 mM 300 mM Citrate 100 mM 150 mM 300 mM Factor-V and AHG Activity 12 Hr. after Blood and Anticoagulant Mixedf Factor-V activity AHG activity per cent per cent 70 15 18 100 18 10 75 4S 5 95 40 12 50 90 20 65 100 40 Thrombin fibrinogen reaction. The addition of a sufficient quantity of calcium or barium chloride to the plasma samples accelerated the prolonged clotting times of plasma prepared from blood taken into excess citrate and EDTA (Table 6). In the case of oxalate the addition of calcium chloride formed a precipitate and did not accelerate the prolonged thrombin clotting time. Dialysis of plasma samples against normal saline also accelerated the thrombin clotting time. This was true for plasma samples stored for at least 7 days. Thromboplastin activity of Al(OH)t-treated plasma. The diminished activity of Al(OH)3treated plasma samples containing excess anticoagulant was not increased by the addition of more calcium to the generation mixture. If the same amount of calcium was incubated with the plasma sample for 10 min. at 37 C., however, before being tested in the thromboplastin generation test, there was some improvement in activity. The plasma sample had to be incubated with an adequate concentration of calcium. Amounts less than that necessary produced proportionately less effect (Fig. 3). * Antihemophilic globulin. f Allowed to stand a t room temperature. t Ethylenediamine t e t r a e e t a t e . Factor-V and AHG activity. There was a progressive loss of Factor-V and AHG activity in plasma samples as the concentrations of EDTA and oxalate used were increased (Table 5). In the case of citrate, concentrations less than optimal, but greater than that needed to stop gross coagulation, did not prevent loss of Factor-V and AHG activity. Citrate concentrations greater than the optimal requirement produced a loss of Factor-V and AHG activity (Table 5). Dialysis of deteriorated plasma samples against normal saline also improved the activity of Al(OH) 3 -treated plasma in the TABLE 6 T H E E F F E C T OF D I A L Y S I S OR THE ADDITION OF D I V A L E N T C A T I O N S ON THE T H R O M B I N CLOTTING T I M E Thrombin Clotting Time—Seconds Anticoagulant Divalent cations added* Saline added* CaCls 11/10 EDTA,t 30 mM Oxalate, 300 mM Citrate, 300 mM + 120 13 20 M/20 M/40 M/10 M/20 M/40 6.5 5.0 6.0 7 6 7 110 6 6 7 • 9 90 7 6 0 * One p a r t plasma + 1 p a r t of solution, t Ethylenediamine t e t r a e e t a t e . Dialysis BaCIs 13 5 6 Dec. 1958 BLOOD COAGULATION thromboplastin generation test. However, after a variable period of time (approximately 8 to 24 hr. at room temperature), neither dialysis nor incubation with calcium improved the activity of the samples of plasma. 503 amounts of citrate were determined. When the concentration of citrate is greater or less than the optimum, the stability of Factor-V and AHG activity is impaired (Fig. 4). DISCUSSION Some Practical Aspects of the Effect of Variations in the Citrate Concentrations of ACD Solutions on Factor-V and AHG Activity during Blood Storage The Factor-V and AHG activity of samples of blood after 7 days' storage at 4 C. in ACD solutions containing various CONTROL »MCACLO ZO NO N O \K INCUBATION INCUBATION TIME-MINUTES F I G . 3. Thromboplastin activity in thromboplastin generation test of a sample of Al(OH) 3 treated plasma prepared from blood taken into a 30-mM. solution of EDTA after incubation with CaClj solutions of various strength for a period of 5 min. The Al(OH) 3 -treated sample of plasma was diluted as follows, and incubated at 37 C. for 10 min. prior to being added to the generation mixt u r e : Al(OH) 3 -treated plasma, 0.06 ml.; buffer pH 7.3, 0.06 ml.; CaCI 2 (M/20, M/40, or M/S0), 0.06 ml.; 0.85 per cent saline solution, 0.12 ml. T h e activity of the Al(OH) 3 -treated sample of plasma, made up as above with M/20 CaCl 2 , b u t not incubated before testing, is indicated by • • . The degree of activity is about the same as the plasma when there is no added CaClj • • . The control (3.8 per cent solution of citrate), Al(OH) 3 -treated plasma activity is indicated by O O, and the activity after incubation with CaCl» X X . (The amounts of CaCl; used are illustrated with corresponding curve.) Concentration of Anticoagulant Salt Necessary to Stabilize the Coagulation Mechanisms EDTA. A 15-mM concentration of this anticoagulant is sufficient to prevent blood from clotting when 9 parts of blood are taken into 1 part of anticoagulant. Although amounts greater than this prevent gross coagulation, there is considerable deterioration of the coagulation mechanism, particularly a loss of Factor-V and AHG activity. Triantaphyllopoulous, Quick, and Greenwalt13 found a 13- to 15-mM concentration of EDTA was necessary to inhibit the coagulation mechanism, and that plasma prepared from blood taken into this concentration of EDTA had a normal 1-stage prothrombin time. Their findings and the findings for the coagulation indices reported in this communication suggest that when the optimal amount of EDTA is used, the coagulation mechanism is reasonably stable. Oxalate. Approximately 30 mM of potassium oxalate is sufficient to stabilize the coagulation mechanism when 1 part anticoagulant is used to 9 parts blood. If this concentration is used, Factor-V activity is stable. When excess anticoagulant is used, however, Factor-V activity is unstable. Fahey and his associates,6 and Stefanini" observed that Factor-V was progressively less stable with increasing concentrations of oxalate. It would therefore appear that if the optimal concentration of oxalate is used, Factor-V activity is comparatively stable, rather than unstable, as is usually stated. Excess oxalate also produces a loss of AHG activity. Spaet and Garner10 regarded AHG activity to be very unstable in oxalated plasma. They attributed this instability of AHG in oxalated plasma to the action of an AHG inactivator. Possibly the poor stability of AHG observed in their study was caused, in part, by the fact that the concentration of anticoagulant used was 33^ times the 504 Vol. SO MUSTARD CONCENTRATION OF DISOOIUM CITRATE G/120 ML A.CD. FIG. 4. The AHG and Factor-V activity of samples of blood taken into ACD solutions of various concentrations of citrate after 7 clays' storage at 4 C. The activity for each of the samples at 7 clays is expressed in per cent of the activity found on the day of collection of blood in samples taken into the corresponding amounts of anticoagulant. optimal value found in the present study. Spaet and Garner comment that the stability of AHG in oxalate plasma is improved by dialysis, whether oxalate is, or is not, removed from the plasma. The crucial experiment for this statement was that dialysis of an oxalate plasma sample against an oxalate saline solution improved AHG stability. The concentration of oxalate in their oxalate saline solution, however, was approximately two-thirds that in the oxalated plasma (saline; saline 9 parts, 100 mM oxalate 1 part = final oxalate concentration of 10 mM: plasma; 9 parts blood to 1 part 100 mM oxalate = oxalate concentration in plasma (assuming hematocrit 45 per cent) of 14.4 mM). Dialysis of the plasma against the oxalate saline, therefore, should reduce the plasma concentration of oxalate, the degree depending upon the volume of plasma and dialysis solution used. Inasmuch as the concentration of oxalate in the plasma was being diminished, dialysis should have improved AHG stability, which it seems to have done. Citrate. Concentration of citrate near the minimum required to prevent gross coagula- tion did not stabilize the activity of factors such as Factor-V and AHG. However, if optimum amounts were used (approximately twice the minimum to prevent clotting), Factor-V and AHG activity were stable. Amounts of citrate greater than the optimum impaired Factor-V and AHG activity in a similar manner to excess EDTA and oxalate. It would seem that the range for the optimal concentration of citrate necessary to stabilize the coagulation mechanism is wider than that for EDTA and oxalate. Nature of the Effect of Excess A nticoagulants on the Coagulation Mechanism There are certain differences between the effect of excess EDTA, citrate, and oxalate on Factor-V and AHG activity and their effect on the thrombin fibrinogen reaction. The prolonged thrombin fibrinogen clotting times can be accelerated by the addition of some divalent cations or by dialysis of the plasma samples for a period of at least 7 days. In contrast, the activity of Al(OH)3treated plasma prepared from blood containing excess anticoagulant can be improved only by incubation with calcium or dialysis Dec. 1958 505 BLOOD COAGULATION for a short period of time. The effect of excess anticoagulants on the thrombin fibrinogen reaction, therefore, appears to be reversible, whereas the effect on the thromboplastin activity of Al(OH) 3 -treated plasma may be irreversible. The effect on the thrombin fibrinogen reaction could be caused by increasing the ionic charge and/or ionic strength of the electrolytes, as suggested by Astrup 1 and Mommaerts. 7 If it were caused by ionic charge, however, oxalate should have been as effective as EDTA, which it was not. Furthermore, the increase in ionic strength brought about by the greatest concentration of EDTA used was approximately onetenth that of citrate and oxalate salts. Inasmuch as EDTA was much more effective than citrate and oxalate, therefore, it would seem that the prolonged thrombin clotting times were not specifically caused by change of ionic charge or ionic strength, or a combination of both. Stormorken12 has suggested that changes in the reactivity of plasma to thrombin may be caused, in part, by denatured fibrinogen. In the case of EDTA, the amount necessary just to ensure stability of the coagulation mechanism was theoretically sufficient to react with approximately 10.8 mg. of calcium per 100 ml. of plasma. An increase in the amount of EDTA from 15 m l to 18 mM produced a considerable loss of AHG and Factor-V activity. The latter concentration of EDTA is theoretically sufficient to combine with 13.0 mg. of calcium per 100 ml. of plasma. It would seem that when there is more than enough EDTA to react with the plasma calcium, there is impairment of the stability of the coagulation mechanism. In view of this, the speculation made by some investigators that excess of the anticoagulant salts may interfere with protein-bound divalent cations does not seem unreasonable.11 Practical Considerations Laboratory tests. Obviously the variations in the concentration and type of anticoagulant salt used by different laboratories are of some importance. Regarding coagulation of blood, it would seem that citrate has a wider range for optimal effectiveness, but if EDTA and oxalate are used in critical concentrations, the coagulation mechanism is just as stable as with citrate. In view of the fact that 0.1 M oxalate is almost universally used in clinical laboratories, this might be regarded as an important difference and that 0.03 M oxalate should be used. For routine work, however, where hematocrits vary widely, the 0.1 M oxalate value still seems best, especially as most tests are standardized to this amount of oxalate, and the coagulation changes are not too important between the usual time of blood collecting and testing. Blood transfusion. Variations in the concentration of citrate in ACD solutions clearly affect the stability of the coagulation mechanism. Concentration below the optimum seems to allow slow activation of the coagulation mechanism,9 whereas excess concentration destroys the activity of such factors as Factor-V and AHG. The use of an optimal concentration of citrate, coupled with care in collection of blood, should ensure good stability of the coagulation mechanism. Another possibly important aspect of excess anticoagulant is the effect of EDTA on platelet stability. The concentration of EDTA normally used for preparing platelets from blood (30 mM, i.e., twice the optimal concentration) rapidly destroys Factor-V and AHG activity. The available evidence indicates that platelets are involved in a reaction with AHG during clotting.3 It is reasonable, therefore, to speculate that anything that rapidly destroys AHG activity and binds calcium should make platelets stable. SUMMARY When the optimum concentration of the salts, ethylenediamine tetracetate (EDTA), citrate, and oxalate are used as anticoagulants for collection of samples of blood, the coagulation mechanism is stable. With EDTA, this is the concentration that will just prevent the blood from clotting, that is, 1 part 15 mM EDTA to 9 parts of blood. This also seems to be true for oxalate. A concentration of 30 mM is adequate under 506 Vol. SO MUSTARD the conditions of this study. With citrate, the amount necessary to ensure stability of the coagulation mechanism seems to be twice the minimum concentration necessary to prevent gross clotting, that is, approximately 150 mM. Anticoagulant concentrations greater than the optimum requirement prolong the thrombin clotting time, and cause a loss of Factor-V and AHG activity. The effect of excess anticoagulant on the thrombin fibrinogen reaction is reversible by dialyzing the plasma sample against saline, or by the addition of divalent cations such as calcium and barium. After a short period of time, the effect of the excess anticoagulants on AHG and Factor-V activity seems to be nonreversible. These observations indicate that the amount and type of anticoagulant salts are of importance in stabilizing the coagulation mechanism in stored blood, in preparing platelets for transfusion, and in ensuring uniformity in the study and interpretation of studies on coagulation disorders. SUMMAKIO I N IN'TERLIiVGUA Quando concentrationes optimal del sales ethylenediaminotetraacetato (EDTA), citrato, e oxalato es usate como anticoagulantes in le collection de specimens de sanguine, le mechanismo coagulatori es stabile. In le caso de EDTA, isto es le concentration que justo preveni le coagulation, i.e., 1 parte EDTA de 15 mM in 9 partes de sanguine. Le mesmo pare esser ver etiam pro oxalato. Un concentration de 30 mM es adequate sub le conditiones de iste studio. In le caso de citrato, le quantitate necessari pro assecurar stabilitate del mechanismo de coagulation pare esser duo vices le concentration minimal necessari pro prevenir coagulation grassier, i.e. approximativemente 150 mM. Concentrationes de anticoagulante in excesso del requirimento optimal prolonga le tempore de coagulation a thrombina e causa un perdita in activitate de Factor V e de globulina antihemophilic (GAH). Le effecto de excessos de anticoagulante super le reaction de thrombina e fibrinogeno es reversibile per dialysar le specimen de plasma contra solution salin o per adder cationes divalente, como per exemplo calcium e barium. Post un breve periodo de tempore, le effecto del excesso de anticoagulantes super le activitate de GAH e de Factor V es apparentemente non-reversibile. Iste observationes indica que le quantitate e le typo de sales anticoagulante es de importantia in stabilisar le mechanismo coagulatori in sanguine immagasinate, in preparar plachettas pro le transfusion, e in assecurar uniformitate in le studio e le interpretation de disordines del coagulation. REFERENCES 1. ASTRUP, T . : Biochemistry of blood coagulation. Acta physiol. scandinav., 7: (suppl. 21): 11-116, 1944. 2. B E L L , W. N . , AND ALTON, H . G.: A brain ex- tract as a substitute for platelet suspensions in the thromboplastin generation test. N a t u r e , London, 174: 880-881, 1954. 3. BERGSAGEL, D . E . : Viscous metamorphosis of platelets: morphological platelet changes induced by an intermediate product of blood thromboplastin formation. Brit. J . Haemat., 2: 130-138, 1956. 4. B I G G S , R., AND D O U G L A S , A. S.: T h e t h r o m b o - plastin generation test. 23-29, 1953. J . Clin. P a t h . , 6: 5. B I G G S , R. P . , A N D M A C F A R L A N E , R. G . : H u m a n blood coagulation and its disorders. E d . 2. Springfield, 111.: Charles C Thomas, 1957. 6. FAHEY, J. L., WARE, A. G., AND SEKGERS, W. H . : Stability of prothrombin and Acglobulin in stored human plasma as influenced bv conditions of storage. Am. J . Physio!., 154: 122-133, 194S. 7. MOMMAERTS, W. F . H . M . : On nature of forces operating in blood clotting. I . The participation of electrostatic a t t r a c t i o n . J . Gen. Physiol., 29: 103-112, 1945. 8. MUSTARD, J . F . : Increased activity of t h e coagulation mechanism during alimentary lipaemia: its significance with regard to thrombosis and atherosclerosis. Canad. M. A. J . , 77: 308-314, 1957. 9. MUSTARD, J . F . : A study of changes in platelets, antihaemophilic globulin, factor-V and factor-VII during blood collection and storage bv different techniques. Brit. J . Haemat., 3 : 202-214, 1957. 10 S P A E T , T . H . , AND G A R N E R , E . S.: Studies on the storage lability of human antihemophilic factor. J . L a b . & Clin. Med., 46: 111-119, 1955. 11. STEFANINI, M . : Studies on t h e role of calcium in the coagulation of t h e blood. Acta med. scandinav., 136: 250-266, 1950. 12. STORMORKEN, H . : Reactivity of stored plasma to thrombin with reference to t h e fibrinogen conversion accelerator a n d heparinoid activity. B r i t . J . H a e m a t . , 3 : 299-310 1957. 13. TRIANTAPHYLLOPOULOUS, D . C , Q U I C K , A. J . , AND GREENWALT, T . J . : Action of disodium ethylenediamine t e t r a c e t a t e on blood coagulation: evidence of t h e development of heparinoid activity during incubation or aeration of plasma. Blood, 10: 534-544 1955.