Heparin and ethylenediamine tetra-acetate as anticoagulants for fish blood.

This study compares the effects of ethylenediamine tetra-acetate (EDTA) and heparin in various concentrations as anticoagulants on the microhaematocrit values of the blood of five species of freshwater fish. EDTA always produced haemolysis after a time interval ranging from 1 to 48 hrs and increased cell volume. Heparin in powdered form was found to be the anticoagulant of choice although minor haematological changes do occur, but it is stressed that preliminary experiments must be done to examine the effects of the anticoagulant before routine haematologic analyses are preformed.