Unexpected abnormal coagulation test results in a 2-year-old child: A case report

Area of Science:

• Clinical Pathology
• Pediatric Medicine
• Laboratory Diagnostics

Background:

• Preanalytical errors in blood collection can lead to sample rejection and repeated venipuncture, causing patient distress.
• Accurate coagulation testing is crucial for surgical procedures, especially in pediatric patients.

Observation:

• A 2-year-old child presented with unexpectedly prolonged prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and thrombin time.
• Initial investigations ruled out congenital disorders, anticoagulant ingestion, heparin contamination, and vitamin K deficiency.

Findings:

• A second blood sample, collected the same day, yielded results within normal reference intervals.
• The discrepancy was attributed to ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) carryover from the blood collection tube into the first sample.

Implications:

• EDTA contamination can cause falsely abnormal coagulation results, leading to unnecessary patient anxiety and medical interventions.
• Highlights the critical importance of proper blood collection techniques and staff education to ensure patient safety and diagnostic accuracy.