In vitro method, use of an agent and collection device for the inhibition of coagulation in blood

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and a use of an agent for the in vitro inhibition of coagulation in blood and a blood collection device provided for said method and use.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method for collecting and analysing and optionally storing blood in vitro, comprising:
 providing a blood collection device,   mixing blood after its withdrawal in said blood collection device with an anticoagulant substance as the only anticoagulant, wherein said anticoagulant substance is provided as a free acid having a pK a  of >0.9 and is selected from the group consisting of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, citric acid, tricarballylic acid, benzenepentacarboxylic acid, mellitic acid, and tetrahydrofuran-2,3,4,5-tetracarboxylic acid or mixtures thereof, wherein the concentration of said anticoagulant substance provided as free acid having a PK a  of >0.9 is at least 0.1 mmol/L of blood mixed therewith,   wherein said mixing is carried out under conditions that in the anticoagulant acid substance as provided, all of the carboxyl groups in the molecule are protonated,   wherein coagulation in blood is thereby inhibited.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said anticoagulant substance is:
 (i) provided as free acid having a pK a  of >0.9; or   (ii) provided as free acid having a pK a  of >0.9 dissolved in a solvent.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein in case (ii) the solvent is selected from the group consisting of an aqueous solution, water, and alcohol and mixtures of water and alcohol. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the blood, collected in a single device and mixed with said anticoagulant substance and optionally after being stored in the blood collection device for a desired period of time, is subsequently subjected to at least one test for the determination of at least one blood component. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the blood, collected in a single device and mixed with said anticoagulant substance and optionally after being stored in the blood collection device for a desired period of time, is subsequently subjected to at least one test for the determination of at least one blood component and further to multiple tests comprising at least one hematologic test, at least one coagulation test and at least one further clinical chemistry analysis.