Studies on neutralization of human serum bactericidal activity by sodium amylosulfate.

The synthetic anticoagulant sodium amylosulfate (SAS) at concentrations of 125 to 2,000 microgram/ml failed to completely neutralize the bactericidal activity of 80 and 50% (by volume) fresh human serum. Furthermore, SAS failed to inhibit the alternative pathway of complement activation in 80% (by volume) fresh human serum that had been chelated with 0.01 M magnesium ions plus 0.01 M ethyleneglycol-bis(beta-aminoethylether)-N,N-tetraacetic acid. However, SAS at 250 to 1,000 microgram/ml effectively neutralized the bactericidal activity of 20% (by volume) fresh human serum. Therefore, SAS (at 250 to 1,000 microgram/ml) should be used only in blood samples that have been diluted at least fivefold (less than or equal to 20% [by volume]) in suitable broth media.