A comparison of erythrocyte sedimentation rates of bloods anticoagulated with trisodium citrate and EDTA among TB presumptive patients at the University of Gondar comprehensive specialized hospital, northwest Ethiopia.

The purpose of this study was comparing the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) results of trisodium citrate (TSC) and ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) anticoagulants. A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Gondar specialized referral hospital, northwest Ethiopia. A total of 70 TB presumptive participants were recruited. From each of the 70 participants of the study, 3 and 1.6 ml of blood was collected in EDTA tubes and 0.4 ml of trisodium Citrate anticoagulant containing test tubes, respectively. The mean ± SD values of ESR were 57.9 ± 41.45 mm/h in EDTA and 50.99 ± 43.5 mm/h in TSC anticoagulated blood. The mean difference of ESR values between EDTA and TSC blood (6.91 ± 13.66 mm/h) was statistically significant. The Mean ± SD of ESR values using EDTA and TSC in males were 59.57 ± 42.31 and 53.57 ± 44.61 mm/h while for females it was 54.71 ± 40.44 and 46.04 ± 41.82 mm/h, respectively. The study indicated that there was a significant difference between ESR values with EDTA and TSC anticoagulants.