ABG syringes are pretreated with which anticoagulant to prevent clotting?

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Multiple Choice

ABG syringes are pretreated with which anticoagulant to prevent clotting?

For arterial blood gas testing, the anticoagulant must stop clotting without distorting the gas and acid-base measurements. Heparin fits this need best because it prevents clot formation with only minimal interference to pH, pCO2, and pO2 when used in the small amounts in ABG syringes. Other anticoagulants—like EDTA, citrate, or oxalate—either chelate calcium or otherwise alter ionic balance, which can change the blood’s gas tensions or buffering and lead to inaccurate results. That’s why ABG syringes are pretreated with heparin.

For arterial blood gas testing, the anticoagulant must stop clotting without distorting the gas and acid-base measurements. Heparin fits this need best because it prevents clot formation with only minimal interference to pH, pCO2, and pO2 when used in the small amounts in ABG syringes. Other anticoagulants—like EDTA, citrate, or oxalate—either chelate calcium or otherwise alter ionic balance, which can change the blood’s gas tensions or buffering and lead to inaccurate results. That’s why ABG syringes are pretreated with heparin.

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