Lithium Heparin
Heparin is the anticoagulant of choice for measuring pH, blood gases, electrolytes, and ionized calcium.
- Plasma tubes for clinical chemistry with spray-dried lithium heparin.
- Heparin acts as an anticoagulant as it develops an antithrombin complex.
- Plasma tubes should be gently inverted 180° and back 8-10 times.
- Correct mixing immediately after the blood sample has been taken is extremely important to avoid microclotting.
- The lithium heparin is spray dried onto the inner walls of the tubes using a special procedure so that the additive is evenly distributed to achieve the best possible solubility.
- For clinical chemistry, lithium heparin is generally preferred over sodium heparin.