Crystals observed in the SF samples preserved in EDTA, heparin, or no anticoagulant after 24 and 72 hours (at 4°C) and after two months (at −80°C)
| MSU (n=31) | CPPD (n=30) | Control (n=30) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EDTA | Heparin | SF alone | EDTA | Heparin | SF alone | EDTA | Heparin | SF alone | |
| *Values expressed as number (and percentage) of samples showing intracellular crystals. | |||||||||
| 24 Hours | 31 (100)* | 29 (94) | 30 (97) | 30 (100) | 30 (100) | 30 (100) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 72 Hours | 31 (100) | 29 (94) | 29 (94) | 29 (97) | 29 (97) | 29 (97) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| >2 Months | – | – | 25 (81) | – | – | 25 (83) | – | – | 0 |