Comparison of erythrocyte sedimentation rate between blood anticoagulated with sodium citrate and EDTA among Tuberculosis suspected patients at University of Gondar Hospital, North West Ethiopia

Objective: The purpose of this study was comparison of erythrocyte sedimentation rate results of sodium citrate and ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid anticoagulant. A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at University of Gondar Referral Hospital, Northwest, Ethiopia. A total of 70 TB suspected study participants were recruited. From each study participants, 3ml blood was collected in to EDTA tube and 1.6ml blood was collected in to a test tube containing 0.4ml Sodium Citrate anticoagulant. Results: The mean ± SD values for ESR were 57.9 ± 41.45 in EDTA and 50.99 ± 43.5 in citrate anticoagulated blood. The mean difference of ESR values between EDTA and citrated blood was 6.91 ± 13.66 mm/hr with a significant difference. The mean ± SD of ESR for EDTA and citrate blood was 59.57 ± 42.31 and 54.71 ± 40.44 mm/hr for males and 53.57 ± 44.61 and 46.04 ± 41.82 mm/hr for females, respectively. This study indicated that there was a significant difference between ESR values with EDTA and tri-sodium citrate anticoagulants.