Preanalytical Quality Evaluation of Low-Volume Citrate Evacuated Blood Collection Tubes—Anticoagulant Solution Volume Accuracy, pH, and Anionic–Cationic Composition

Blood collection tubes are widely used medical devices. Inaccurate citrate anticoagulant concentration can influence the results of coagulation tests. The producer's expertise and responsibility are considered the quality safeguards. However, the tubes undergo changes during their lifecycle, partly due to storage conditions, and the end user or a third party has no comprehensive insight. A methodology is necessary to reveal the tube's inherent characteristics. We provide insight into the anionic-cationic composition and pH of anticoagulant solutions in commercial tubes using high-performance ion exchange chromatography on a purified water model, making the anticoagulant volume accuracy assessment possible through a direct dye-dilution method. The results revealed differences between the tubes of two producers, Greiner BIO-ONE (A and A(nr)) and BD (C). Tube C has the most accurate anticoagulant amount. Both brands contain buffered citrate. The method of buffer preparation is not a source of interferant for the spectrometric method of the tubes' quality evaluation. Acetate, formate, chloride, nitrite, sulfate, oxalate, bromide, and nitrate impurities were determined in anticoagulant solutions, all in tube A and some in the others. Tubes C exhibit the highest contamination with cations.