Name a common anticoagulant used in blood collection for clinical pathology.

EDTA, or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, is widely used as an anticoagulant in blood collection for clinical pathology. It works by binding to calcium ions in the blood, which are essential for the coagulation process. By chelating these calcium ions, EDTA effectively prevents blood from clotting, allowing for accurate analysis of blood components such as cell counts and plasma biochemistry. This property makes it particularly valuable in hematological studies, where whole blood samples or plasma are required.

Citrate is another common anticoagulant but is primarily used in specific tests where its unique effects, such as in coagulation studies, are desired. Heparin, while also an anticoagulant, is typically used in specific circumstances, particularly in some types of plasma analyses and when immediate processing is needed. Warfarin is an anticoagulant used therapeutically to prevent blood clots but is not utilized in blood collection for diagnostic purposes due to its implications and mechanisms of action that are different from those of typical anticoagulants used in laboratory settings.