Biochemical Testing: 4 Causes of Hemolysis Buring Blood Sampling

A condition in which red blood cells rupture and hemoglobin escapes is known as red blood cell lysis, or hemolysis. Hemolysis can also occur during blood sampling, why is this?

It is possible that the patient has a disease such as hemolytic anemia, hyperbilirubinemia or that he or she has taken hemolytic drugs prior to blood collection, in which case the blood drawn is likely to be already hemolyzed.

Excessive use of alcohol, forceful pressure on the blood collection site, multiple needle feeds or adjusting the position of the needle after feeding, all these operations may cause the sample to appear hemolyzed.

The material of the blood collection tube is not qualified, resulting in the plastic being toxic due to incomplete polymerization causing hemolysis of the sample. At the same time, the test tube is not dry or clean enough can also cause sample hemolysis. In addition, the low content of anticoagulant in anticoagulation tubes can also lead to hemolysis.

Blood collected and not immediately sent for testing can cause hemolysis by being left for too long; transportation without insulation measures can also lead to hemolysis; violent oscillations during transportation can also cause hemolysis of red blood cells due to impact rupture.

Sample hemolysis affects the accuracy of almost all biochemical test results. Therefore, both clinical nurses, physicians and laboratory workers should give adequate attention to the problem of sample hemolysis.