Study of Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) - Dependent Pseudothrombocytopenia

Objective: To evaluate and compare the cases of EDTA-PTCP with actual platelet counts at different time intervals with new anticoagulant.
Methods: This cross–sectional study was carried out in rural tertiary centre in central India. Blood samples were collected in K3-EDTA and CPT vials separately and subjected for peripheral smear examination and manual platelet counts. Comparison of platelet counts obtained by automated cell counter at 30 minutes, 3-4 hours and at 24 hours of blood collection from both anticoagulants and with manual counts was done.
Results: The platelet counts in EDTA anticoagulated blood on suspicion of thrombocytopenia, as well as even after collection of fresh blood sample from same patient in EDTA and the counts at different time intervals showed significantly lower counts than that observed in CPT anticoagulated blood at the parallel time intervals and than that in the manual platelet counts.
Conclusions: Unrecognized PTCP may result in unnecessary laboratory testing, bone marrow aspiration and unwarranted transfusions and will prevent needless evaluations of thrombocytopenia and related therapeutic decisions.