American Medical Technologist (AMT) Practice Exam

Sodium fluoride is primarily used in blood collection to preserve glucose levels in the specimen. This is important because glucose levels can decrease rapidly due to glycolysis, where glucose is metabolized by cells in the blood sample. By inhibiting the enzymatic activity that breaks down glucose, sodium fluoride helps ensure that the glucose measurement obtained from the blood sample reflects the patient's actual blood sugar levels at the time of collection, rather than levels that may have changed during transport or storage.

The use of sodium fluoride in collection tubes is especially critical in scenarios such as diabetes testing, where accurate glucose levels are essential for diagnosis and management. While sodium fluoride has some antimicrobial properties that can contribute to reducing the risk of bacterial growth, its primary role is as a glycolytic inhibitor, making it especially effective for preserving glucose concentrations.