What is the main function of anticoagulants in blood collection tubes?

Anticoagulants play a crucial role in blood collection tubes by ensuring that the blood remains in a liquid state, preventing it from clotting prior to testing. This is vital because clotting can interfere with laboratory tests, leading to inaccurate results. When blood clots, it separates into the solid component (the clot) and the liquid component (plasma or serum), making it difficult to analyze the specific constituents of the blood that are needed for various diagnostic tests.

Different types of anticoagulants are used in collection tubes for different purposes. For example, EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) is commonly used for complete blood count (CBC) tests because it preserves the cellular components of blood while preventing clotting. Other anticoagulants might be used depending on the desired tests and components to be analyzed, but their primary function universally remains the same: to inhibit the coagulation process.

This function is essential in ensuring that healthcare providers can obtain accurate and reliable test results, which are crucial for patient diagnosis and management.