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British Journal of Anaesthesia, 2001, Vol. 87, No. 4 628-629
© 2001 The Board of Management and Trustees of the British Journal of Anaesthesia

Short Communications

Contamination of coagulation tests with heparin from blood gas samples

J. M. Brown1 and G. Dimeski2

1Intensive Care Unit, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia. 2Chemical Pathology Department, Queensland Health Pathology Service, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia*Corresponding author: Department of Anaesthesia, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Marlborough Street, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK

We investigated the possibility that samples of blood could be contaminated by heparinized blood gas syringes, giving spurious results in coagulation tests. We collected coagulation test samples before (n=5) and after (n=13) blood gas sampling from a venous cannula in a volunteer. The results of activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) tests were compared between control samples and samples taken before and after blood gas sampling. The median APTT after blood gas sampling was 71 s, significantly higher than before (median 34 s, P<0.05). We conclude that heparin from blood gas sampling syringes can contaminate coagulation tests. Heparinized samples for blood gas analysis should be obtained after coagulation test samples have been obtained.

Br J Anaesth 2001; 87: 628–9


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