Enhanced Stability Lithium Heparin Tube with Reversible Anticoagulation for Plasma Separation in 13 × 75mm and 13 × 100mm Sizes

Product Description: Enhanced Stability Lithium Heparin Tube (Rapid & Reversible)

Key Characteristics Highlighting its Function:

• Rapid Action: Heparin acts quickly upon mixing with blood, providing immediate anticoagulation.

• Reversible (in theory): While not routinely done in clinical labs, heparin's effect can be countered by substances like protamine sulfate. This reversibility is sometimes relevant in specific therapeutic contexts, but not typically for sample collection tubes.

• Ideal for Chemistry: The use of Lithium salt minimizes interference, particularly crucial for accurate measurement of:

  • Electrolytes: Sodium (Na+), Potassium (K+), Chloride (Cl-), Lithium (Li+ - though less common), Bicarbonate (HCO3-)

  • Renal/Liver Function Markers: Urea, Creatinine, Uric Acid, Bilirubin, Liver Enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP, GGT)

  • Metabolites: Glucose, Lactate

  • Hormones: Many hormone assays

  • Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM): For various drugs

  • Enzymes: Amylase, Lipase, CK

• Not Suitable for All Tests: Importantly, Lithium Heparin tubes are NOT appropriate for:

  • Coagulation/Haemostasis Tests: (e.g., PT, APTT, Fibrinogen) - Heparin directly interferes with these tests. Citrate tubes (like light blue top) are used instead.

  • Blood Smears/Morphology: Heparin can cause staining artifacts. EDTA tubes (purple/lavender top) are preferred for hematology.

  • Some Immunology/Serology Tests: Depending on the specific assay, serum (from clot activator tubes) or EDTA plasma might be required.

  • Trace Metal Analysis (Lithium): Obviously not suitable if lithium levels are being measured.

In Summary:

The primary and indispensable function of Lithium Heparin is to effectively prevent blood clotting in collection tubes by enhancing antithrombin activity, thereby enabling the reliable collection of plasma samples. Its key advantage lies in the use of lithium as the counter-ion, which minimizes interference with a broad spectrum of routine clinical chemistry analytes, particularly electrolytes, making it the workhorse anticoagulant for general biochemistry testing in modern clinical laboratories.