ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

(EDTA) [eth″ĭ-lēn-di″ah-mēn-tet″rah-ah-se´tik] a chelating agent that binds calcium and other metals; used as an anticoagulant for preserving blood specimens. Also used medicinally; see edetate. Called also edetic acid.

eth·yl·ene·di·a·mine·tet·ra·a·ce·tic ac·id (EDTA),

(eth'il-ēn-dī'ă-mēn-tet'ă-sē'tik as'id), A chelating agent used to remove multivalent cations from solution as chelates, and used in biochemical research to remove Mg²⁺, Fe²⁺, among other elements, from reactions affected by such ions. As the sodium salt, used as a water softener, to stabilize drugs rapidly decomposed in the presence of traces of metal ions, and as an anticoagulant; as the sodium calcium salt, used to remove radium, lead, strontium, plutonium, and cadmium from hard tissue, forming stable un-ionized soluble compounds that are excreted by the kidneys. Compare: EGTA. Synonym(s): edathamil, edetic acid

EDTA

Alternative medicine
See Chelation therapy.

Chemistry
A chelating agent that binds divalent (e.g., arsenic, calcium, lead and magnesium) and trivalent cations.

Lab medicine
EDTA is added to blood collection tubes to transport specimens for analysis in chemistry (e.g., CEA, lead, renin) and haematology (it is the preferred anticoagulant for blood cell counts, coagulation studies, haemoglobin electrophoresis and erythrocyte sedimentation rate); in the blood bank, EDTA prevents haemolysis by inhibiting complement binding.

Toxicology
EDTA is used to manage lead and other heavy metal intoxication.