Case Report
Fabian Pitkin
Abstract
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid (EDTA)-Induced Thrombocytopenia is a fairly rare in vitro immunological mediated phenomenon characterized by a spuriously low platelet count on automated analyzers secondary to antiplatelet autoantibodies which cause platelets to aggregate in specimens ant coagulated with EDTA. The aggregations of platelets result in a false increase in leukocytes as giant platelets are counted as lymphocytes. Failure to detect this EDTA-Induced Thrombocytopenia could result in unnecessary laboratory investigations and superfluous interventions. EDTA-induced thrombocytopenia is sometimes prevented by other anticoagulants such as sodium citrate or heparin. In this article we reported a case of a 23-year-old female with EDTA-induced thrombocytopenia and a falsely increased leukocyte count confirmed by the use of a citrated tube and a peripheral smear without platelet aggregation.