3.2% Vs. 3,8% Sodium Citrate

We thought we had heard the last of this discussion, but one question remains. While a lot of work was done supporting the use of 3.2% sodium citrate for coagulation testing specimens, little was done to generalize it to platelet testing. We are using 3.2% citrate specimens for aggregometry, PFA-100, and Accumetrics Ultegra, but I’ve seen very little to support its validity in those tests. Please pass on what you know:

1. Have you recorded or published studies supporting 3.2% citrate specimens for platelet testing?

2. Are you continuing to require 3.8% citrate for platelet testing?

If you would like to review our discussion of coagulation specimen collection, go to our module, Hemostasis Blood Specimens.