What is the purpose of anticoagulants in blood collection tubes?

Anticoagulants in blood collection tubes serve the critical purpose of preventing clot formation. When blood is drawn, it naturally begins to coagulate due to the presence of clotting factors in the plasma. Anticoagulants are substances that inhibit this clotting process, allowing for the collection of whole blood or plasma without the interference of clots. By preventing coagulation, these additives ensure that the blood sample can be used for various laboratory tests that require plasma or whole blood without the confounding effects of clotting. This is crucial for accurate test results, as the presence of clots can lead to erroneous interpretations and diagnoses.