Which anticoagulant is commonly used during blood donations?

Acid Citrate Dextrose (ACD) is commonly used as an anticoagulant during blood donations because it effectively preserves the quality of blood components. The primary function of ACD is to inhibit the clotting cascade by chelating calcium ions, which are essential for blood coagulation. This ensures that the donated blood remains in a liquid state, making it suitable for storage and transfusion. Additionally, ACD provides nutrients that help maintain cellular viability during storage.

The choice of ACD for blood donations is particularly relevant because it is formulated to maintain the integrity of red blood cells, platelets, and plasma when the blood is stored for future transfusion or processing into different blood products. The preservation qualities of ACD make it an ideal anticoagulant for blood banks and donation facilities.

Other anticoagulants like Sodium Citrate and Lithium Heparin may also be used in specific clinical situations, but they are not typically the standard for blood donations due to differences in their anticoagulation properties and the focus on storage stability for blood components.