Preanalytical Sedimentation Effects on Hematological Tests

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Clinical Pathology
• Laboratory Medicine

Background:

• Blood specimen errors, often attributed to contamination, can lead to inaccurate hemoglobin levels.
• When contamination is ruled out, specimen handling errors like sedimentation may cause variations.
• Proper evaluation of blood samples between collection and testing is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of blood sedimentation on complete blood count (CBC) results.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of specimen handling techniques in preventing sedimentation-related errors.
• To improve the accuracy of CBC testing in hospital settings.

Main Methods:

• Blood specimens were collected in syringes and allowed to stand vertically for 10 minutes.
• Syringes were divided into top and bottom halves, with some samples inverted before division.
• Samples were analyzed for complete blood count (CBC) parameters.

Main Results:

• Blood sedimentation significantly impacts CBC results when specimens are not immediately transferred.
• Inverting collected blood specimens prior to transfer effectively mitigates variations caused by sedimentation.
• Proper mixing is essential to ensure sample homogeneity.

Conclusions:

• Specimen handling after blood collection is critical for accurate laboratory results.
• Erythrocyte sedimentation can cause erroneous CBC findings if not addressed.
• Inverting syringes before transferring blood to collection tubes ensures sample uniformity and reliable results.