What is the primary use of heparin tubes in clinical pathology?

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Multiple Choice

What is the primary use of heparin tubes in clinical pathology?

Explanation:
Heparin tubes are used to prevent blood from clotting, so you can obtain plasma for analysis. This makes them ideal for plasma chemistry testing, where the goal is to measure soluble components in the liquid portion of blood. The anticoagulant keeps the sample from forming a clot, allowing rapid centrifugation and direct use of the plasma in many biochemical assays. For tests like a CBC, you want to preserve intact blood cells, so EDTA is preferred rather than heparin. Blood typing also relies on different preparation methods, not typically using heparin tubes.

Heparin tubes are used to prevent blood from clotting, so you can obtain plasma for analysis. This makes them ideal for plasma chemistry testing, where the goal is to measure soluble components in the liquid portion of blood. The anticoagulant keeps the sample from forming a clot, allowing rapid centrifugation and direct use of the plasma in many biochemical assays. For tests like a CBC, you want to preserve intact blood cells, so EDTA is preferred rather than heparin. Blood typing also relies on different preparation methods, not typically using heparin tubes.

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