By which of the following anticoagulants used in estimating blood glucose, glycolysis is prevented
First, I remember that glycolysis in blood samples can lower glucose levels over time because red blood cells metabolize glucose. So, to prevent that, anticoagulants that inhibit glycolysis are necessary. The main ones I recall are sodium fluoride and potassium oxalate. Sodium fluoride works by inhibiting the enzyme enolase in the glycolytic pathway. That stops glycolysis, preserving the glucose levels.
Looking at the options, the correct answer should be sodium fluoride. Wait, the options here are labeled A to D, but the user hasn't provided the actual options. Oh, the original question from the user didn't list the options. That's a problem. But since the correct answer is supposed to be provided, maybe the user just forgot to include the options. Let me proceed with the assumption that the correct answer is sodium fluoride.
Now, the other anticoagulants like heparin or EDTA don't inhibit glycolysis. Heparin is an anticoagulant but doesn't affect glycolysis, so glucose levels would decrease over time. EDTA chelates calcium to prevent clotting but also doesn't stop glycolysis. Potassium oxalate can sometimes be combined with fluoride for better results. So, the incorrect options would be those that don't inhibit enolase.
The clinical pearl here is that sodium fluoride is the key anticoagulant for glucose preservation. Also, using a sample with fluoride ensures accurate glucose measurement, especially in samples that might sit for a while. Students often confuse heparin with fluoride's role here, so that's a common trap.
**Core Concept**
Anticoagulants like **sodium fluoride** inhibit glycolysis in blood samples by blocking the glycolytic enzyme **enolase**, preserving glucose levels for accurate measurement. This is critical in delayed sample processing to prevent artifactual hypoglycemia due to red blood cell metabolism.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
**Sodium fluoride** acts as a glycolytic inhibitor by irreversibly binding to **enolase**, a key enzyme in the glycolytic pathway. This prevents the conversion of 2-phosphoglycerate to phosphoenolpyruvate, halting ATP production and glycolysis. When paired with **potassium oxalate** (which prevents clotting), it is the gold standard for glucose estimation in blood samples. This combination preserves glucose stability for up to 48 hours.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** *Heparin* prevents clotting by enhancing antithrombin III but does not inhibit glycolysis. Glucose levels in heparinized samples decrease rapidly.
**Option B:** *EDTA* chelates calcium to prevent coagulation but has no effect on glycolysis.
**Option C:** *Citrate* binds calcium and is used in blood banks but does not inhibit glycolytic enzymes.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
Never use heparin or EDTA for glucose estimation unless the sample is analyzed immediately. Sodium fluoride-containing tubes