Background Inadvertent submission of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) based plasma in place of heparinized plasma or contamination of serum or heparinized plasma with EDTA can alter select laboratory measurements. While factitious hypocalcaemia and abnormally low alkaline phosphatase (ALP) are recognized indicators of EDTA contamination, the impact of EDTA on Mg2+ and Fe2+ remains controversial.

Method Herein, we derived the EDTA concentration required to cause a 50% decline (EC50[EDTA]) for Ca2+, ALP, Mg2+, and Fe2+ across two methodologies (Roche Cobas c303 and Abbott Alinity c) by varying EDTA concentration across plasma and serum pools. The concentration of EDTA required to exceed the allowable performance limit (APL[EDTA]) was also evaluated across methods.

Results Mg2+ measured by an isocitrate dehydrogenase enzymatic method was resilient against EDTA, while Mg2+ measured by xylidyl blue had an EC50[EDTA] and APL[EDTA] of 0.78 – 1.18 mmol/L and 0.16 – 0.34 mmol/L, respectively. Fe2+ measured with a ferene method was resilient to EDTA, whereas ferrrozine method indicated EC50[EDTA] and APL[EDTA] of 5.6 – 8.86 mmol/L and 4.68 – 5.46 mmol/L, respectively. Ca2+ and ALP exhibited larger EC50[EDTA] on the Abbott Alinity c.

Conclusion Hypomagnesemia and hypoferremia are not definitive markers of potential EDTA contamination, as Mg2+ and Fe2+ measurements show method-dependent susceptibilities.

The authors have declared no competing interest.

This study did not receive any funding.

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