VACUETTE® Blood Typing Tubes
These tubes are specifically designed for collecting blood intended for blood group determination (ABO and Rh typing) and for applications requiring the preservation of the viability and integrity of blood cells, especially red blood cells, for an extended period.
Additives and Mechanism of Action
The effectiveness of these tubes lies in their special anticoagulant and preservative solutions. The inner wall of the tube is coated with one of these three solutions:
- ACD-A (Acid Dextrose Citrate – Solution A)
- ACD-B (Acid Dextrose Citrate – Solution B)
- CPDA (Citrate Phosphate Dextrose Adenine)
The components of each additive play crucial roles in cell preservation:
- Sodium Citrate:
- Function: Acts as the primary anticoagulant. It binds to calcium ions in the blood (chelation), preventing the coagulation cascade and keeping the blood in a liquid state.
- Citric acid:
- Function: Assists in anticoagulation and helps maintain a lower pH in the collected blood, which reduces cellular metabolism and improves the preservation of red blood cells.
- Dextrose (Glucose):
- Function: It serves as a source of energy for blood cells, primarily red blood cells. Dextrose is metabolized by cells via the glycolytic pathway to produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the energy molecule that fuels essential cellular processes to maintain cell membrane integrity. This keeps cells viable for longer.
- Phosphate (present in CPDA):
- Function: It acts as a buffer to maintain a stable pH. In addition, it is a source of phosphate for the generation of ATP and 2,3-DPG, a molecule that regulates the affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen, helping to maintain the physiological function of red blood cells.
- Adenine (present in CPDA):
- Function: It is a fundamental component for ATP synthesis. By providing adenine, the CPDA solution allows red blood cells to resynthesize the ATP that has been consumed, significantly extending the period of cell viability and conservation compared to ACD solutions.
Clinical Applications
Thanks to their cell-stabilizing properties, these tubes are suitable for:
- Blood Typing and Crossmatching: These are the ideal choice for determining blood groups (ABO and Rh factor) in blood banks and clinical laboratories.
- Immunohematology Tests: Used to detect irregular antibodies and other tests that require intact red blood cells.
- Cell Preservation for Genetic Studies: These are frequently used in paternity tests (DNA), HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) studies for transplant compatibility, and other genetic analyses that require viable nucleated cells (leukocytes).
- Cellular Function Studies: Used in research where blood cells need to be kept in a state as close to physiological as possible.
In summary, VACUETTE® Blood Typing Tubes with ACD or CPDA additives go beyond simple anticoagulation. They are preservation systems that nourish and stabilize blood cells, ensuring the quality and viability of the sample for tests that depend on the structural and functional integrity of the cells, especially red and white blood cells.
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Learn about other types of VACUETTE tubing.