Guidance on the Critical Shortage of Sodium Citrate Coagulation Tubes for Hemostasis Testing

Authors

Robert C. Gosselin, Thrombosis & Hemostasis Center, University of California, Davis Health System, Sacramento, CA, USA
Annette Bowyer, Deptartment of Coagulation, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK
Emmanuel J. Favaloro, Sydney Centres for Thrombosis and Haemostasis, NSW Health Pathology, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW, Australia
Jill M. Johnsen, Bloodworks Northwest, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
Giuseppe Lippi, Section of Clinical Biochemistry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
Richard A. Marlar, Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
Keith Neeves, Bioengineering and Pediatrics, Section of Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplant, Hemophilia Treatment Center, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
Marian A. Rollins-Raval, Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-1-2021

Abstract

Recent manufacturing problems and increased utilization has created a shortage of 3.2% sodium citrate blood collection tubes used for coagulation testing, causing stakeholders such as hospitals, clinics and laboratories, to find suitable alternatives. Considerations for in-house citrate blood collection tube preparations or purchasing commercial products from unknown manufacturing sources is of particular concern to laboratories that perform coagulation testing. It is well recognized that variability exists between citrate blood collection tube manufacturers, thereby making any transition to new blood collection methods more challenging than simply switching to a new source. This document provides provisional guidance for validating alternative sources of sodium citrate blood collection tubes (commercial or in-house preparations) prior to clinical implementation.

Recommended Citation

Gosselin RC, Bowyer A, Favaloro EJ, Johnsen JM, Lippi G, Marlar RA, Neeves K, Rollins-Raval MA. Guidance on the critical shortage of sodium citrate coagulation tubes for hemostasis testing. J Thromb Haemost. 2021 Nov;19(11):2857-2861. doi: 10.1111/jth.15514. Epub 2021 Sep 2. PMID: 34455689; PMCID: PMC9290683.