To Test the Accuracy of Platelet Count, as Corrected by Citrate Anticoagulant in EDTA Induced Pseudo-Thrombocytopenia

Background EDTA- induced pseudothrombocytopenia (EDTA-PTCP) is a common laboratory phenomenon with a prevalence ranging from 0.1-2 % in hospitalized patients to 15-17 % in outpatients evaluated for isolated thrombocytopenia. (EDTA-PTCP) is falsely low platelet count due to antibodies directed against glycoprotein (gp) IIb-IIIa complex leading to agglutination. Misinterpretation of artificial low platelet count lead to unnecessary transfusion of platelets increasing the risk of associated morbidity. Methodology & Results- A Total of 100 Cases of EDTA induced Pseudo-thrombocytopenia as corrected by Citrate anticoagulant is studied. The PLT Count by Abotts Cell DYN Ruby using EDTA as anticoagulant is ( 55 25.9) & citrate anticoagulant is ( 217.8 61.16) x103/mm. Manual platelet count = 222 58.7 x103/mm. P value less than 0.05 which is statistically significant. This results clearly shows manual platelet count very well correlated with citrated blood platelet. Conclusion EDTA induced PTCP can be corrected by immediate blood analysis in hematology analyzers with Citrate as anticoagulant. So it can be confidently concluded that EDTA induced pseudothrombocytopenia can be effectively corrected by citrate anticoagulated blood.