The use of dextran sulphate as a blood anticoagulant in biological research.

Several well-known anticoagulants are in use for blood sample tubes, each having some special application, but there is little doubt that the naturally occurring anticoagulant, heparin, would find wider application were it not so difficult to prepare and consequently expensive. Chemically prepared sulphuric esters of polysaccharides are known to have anticoagulant action. One of these, dextran sulphate, has recently been prepared (Ricketts, 1952) in a form suitable for therapeutic use (Walton, 1951). This material, which is readily prepared and therefore cheaper than heparin, may also find application in biological laboratory work. Some experiments have been conducted to ascertain whether dextran sulphate will give results comparable with the usual anticoagulants in determinations commonly performed in the clinical pathology laboratory. While not comprehensive, these experiments indicate the general suitability of the material for this purpose.