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Sifat Jubaira: K₂-EDTA vs K₃-EDTA – Same Anticoagulant, Very Different Accuracy
Feb 15, 2026, 10:26

Sifat Jubaira: K₂-EDTA vs K₃-EDTA – Same Anticoagulant, Very Different Accuracy

Sifat Jubaira, Lab Medicine Specialist at United Hospital Limited, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“K₂-EDTA vs K₃-EDTA – Same Anticoagulant, Very Different Accuracy

Both K₂-EDTA and K₃-EDTA prevent blood clotting by binding calcium.

But their impact on hematology results is not the same.

K₂-EDTA (Dipotassium EDTA)

  • Dry, spray-coated
  • No dilution effect
  • Preserves RBC size and platelet count
  • Gold standard for CBC

K₃-EDTA (Tripotassium EDTA)

  • Liquid leads to sample dilution
  • May falsely decrease Hb, Hct, MCV and platelets
  • Alters cell morphology
  • No longer recommended for routine hematology

Bottom line:

For accurate hematological values and reliable cell morphology, K₂-EDTA is the anticoagulant of choice.

Authentic References

  1. ICSH Guidelines – Recommendations for EDTA anticoagulants in hematology
  2. CLSI GP34 / H21 – Collection, transport and processing of blood specimens
  3. Bain BJ. Blood Cells: A Practical Guide, Wiley-Blackwell
  4. Dacie and Lewis. Practical Haematology, Elsevier”

Find more posts  featuring Sifat Jubaira on Hemostasis Today.