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We came across a journal article on this years ago. We do try this on specimens that show clumped platlelets on the slide. I would say it works about half the time for "regular" clumpers. It does NOT work for EDTA clumpers. If you know you have a patient that is an EDTA clumper, draw a citrate as has been suggested. And of course, if there are clots in the tube, you have to get a redraw. Anyway, to do it properly, you need to aliquot a small amount like 1/2 to 1 ml, and vortex it for 2 to 3 minutes. This is a long time to stand at the vortexer feeling your hand going numb, but if you want to work, you do need to do it longer than a few seconds. Then you make a smear with the vortexed specimen AND run it. If there are no clumps on the slide, you can report the platelelet count off the vtxd specimen. Scott

Make and stain a smear looking for platelet clumping. If present consider a recollection advising phlebotomy to collect a sodium citrate specimen in addition to the normal EDTA specimen in case of EDTA sensitivity in the patient. If the recollected EDTA specimen still demonstrates platelet clumping, run the citrate sample and correct the platelet result by multiplying by 1.1 for dilution correction.