Cell and platelet stability in disodium and tripotassium edta

The relative stability of blood cells and platelets from 25 donor samples collected in both Na2EDTA and K3EDTA was examined. Twenty-one samples were from normal donors. At designated intervals over a five hour period cell counts and mean cell volumes were determined for each specimen. The separation of plasma from whole blood for future potassium determinations, as well as the preparation of blood smears for determining cellular morphology, were also performed at the designated intervals. The results indicate that no significant changes were observed in the areas investigated. Additional tests should be performed on pathological samples.