• Xiang Shi, Zhongyuan Lin, Liyan He, Wenchao Li, Lijun Mo, Yinyin Li, Zheng Yang, and Wu-Ning Mo.
• Department of Clinical Laboratory, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
• Medicine (Baltimore). 2017 Mar 1; 96 (11): e6330.

RationaleEthylenediaminetetraacetic acid-dependent pseudothrombocytopenia (EDTA-PTCP) is a rare phenomenon characterized by spuriously low platelet counts when EDTA reacts with harvested blood. However, to the best of our knowledge, only two cases involving EDTA-PTCP in postoperative patients with sepsis have been reported. Here, we describe a case of EDTA-PTCP that appeared transiently in a postoperative patient with sepsis.Patient ConcernsA 68-year-old female patient underwent laparoscopic tension-free hernioplasty for incisional hernia. Postoperatively, the patient developed very low platelet counts. The number of platelets in this patient had not improved following treatment with fresh-frozen plasma and platelet transfusions.DiagnosesThe diagnosis of EDTA-PTCP was confirmed from the discovery of platelet aggregation in peripheral blood smears.InterventionsWe used sodium citrate-anticoagulated blood samples for platelet counting.OutcomesThe patient's platelet counts returned to normal with the use of sodium citrate-anticoagulated blood samples. Furthermore, the phenomenon of EDTA-PTCP disappeared when the patient was cured.LessonsThe phenomenon of low platelet counts in postoperative patients with sepsis should be considered as possible EDTA-PTCP. In addition, peripheral blood smears and the use of sodium citrate anticoagulant are effective and valuable methods that can help identify EDTA-PTCP.

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