hemoconcentration

Medical term Routine Blood Collections

Rise in cell and protein concentration when plasma water leaves the vein, as with a tourniquet left on too long; falsely raises potassium, protein and calcium.

Sources

• Chang J, et al. Standards and Practice Guidelines for Venous Blood Collection: Consensus Recommendations from the Korean Society for Laboratory Medicine. Ann Lab Med 2025;45(4):343-357 (PMC12187494) · Annals of Laboratory Medicine via PubMed Central
• Nordin N, et al. Preanalytical Errors in Clinical Laboratory Testing at a Glance: Source and Control Measures. Cureus 2024;16(3):e57243 (PMC10981510) · Cureus via PubMed Central
• Nikolac N, Supak-Smolcic V, Simundic AM, Celap I. Croatian Society of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine: national recommendations for venous blood sampling (based on CLSI H3-A6). Biochem Med 2013;23(3):242-254 (PMC3900082) · Biochemia Medica via PubMed Central

Related terms

• plasmaThe liquid part of unclotted blood, separated by centrifuging a tube that contains an anticoagulant; it…
• tourniquetBand tied 7 to 10 cm (3 to 4 in, about 4 to 5 finger widths) above the site to slow venous return so veins…
• veinA vessel that carries blood back toward the heart under low pressure. Superficial arm veins are the usual…
• gaugeThe number for a needle's bore: the higher the gauge, the thinner the needle. A 21-gauge needle is typical…
• glycolytic inhibitorAdditive, most often sodium fluoride in gray-top tubes, that keeps cells from consuming glucose after…
• heel stickCapillary puncture on the medial or lateral plantar surface of an infant's heel, used from birth to about 6…
• hematomaSwelling from blood leaking into tissue at the puncture, for example when the needle goes through the vein…
• hemoglobinIron-based protein packed inside red cells; it picks up oxygen in the lungs, releases it to tissues and…
• hemolysisRupture of red cells that releases hemoglobin and potassium into serum or plasma, tinting it pink to red and…
• hemostasisThe body's process for stopping bleeding: the vessel narrows, platelets form a plug, then coagulation builds…

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