Anticoagulated whole blood is the preferred specimen in determining exposure to which compound?

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Multiple Choice

Anticoagulated whole blood is the preferred specimen in determining exposure to which compound?

Explanation:
Carbon monoxide exposure is assessed by measuring carboxyhemoglobin, which is CO bound to hemoglobin inside red blood cells. To obtain an accurate value, you need intact red blood cells and a specimen that won’t clot, so anticoagulated whole blood is the best choice. The anticoagulant keeps the blood from clotting and preserves the cellular component, allowing reliable measurement of CO bound to hemoglobin (usually by co-oximetry). Other substances listed are typically measured in plasma or serum (or in whole blood without requiring the cellular binding), so their testing doesn’t rely on whole blood with anticoagulant in the same way.

Carbon monoxide exposure is assessed by measuring carboxyhemoglobin, which is CO bound to hemoglobin inside red blood cells. To obtain an accurate value, you need intact red blood cells and a specimen that won’t clot, so anticoagulated whole blood is the best choice. The anticoagulant keeps the blood from clotting and preserves the cellular component, allowing reliable measurement of CO bound to hemoglobin (usually by co-oximetry). Other substances listed are typically measured in plasma or serum (or in whole blood without requiring the cellular binding), so their testing doesn’t rely on whole blood with anticoagulant in the same way.

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