Stability studies of common biochemical analytes in serum separator tubes with or without gel barrier subjected to various storage conditions.
Author(s): Cuhadar S, Atay A, Koseoglu M, Dirican A, Hur A
Publication: Biochem Med (Zagreb), 2012, Vol. 22, Page 202-14
PubMed ID: 22838186 PubMed Review Paper? No
Purpose of Paper
The purpose of this paper was to investigate the effects of storing serum after centrifugation in the original collection tubes, with or without gel barriers, on levels of clinical chemistry analytes in serum.
Conclusion of Paper
Glucose, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, uric acid, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), bilirubin and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were significantly affected by storing serum for 72 h at room temperature after centrifugation in the original tubes. Storage at 4°C and storage in tubes containing a gel separator resulted in smaller changes in glucose, HDL cholesterol, uric acid and BUN than storage at 24°C or in tubes without the gel. Only statistically insignificant or clinically irrelevant changes in the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatinine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LD), albumin, creatinine, gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), triglycerides, alkaline phosphatase and cholesterol were observed after storage of serum with the clot for 72 h at either temperature, regardless of tube type.
Studies
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Study Purpose
The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of the temperature and duration of storage of serum on the clot in the original collection tubes, with or without gel barriers, on levels of 16 clinical chemistry analytes in serum. Blood was obtained from 15 healthy patients and centrifuged within 30 min. Serum was then stored on the gel or clot at the relevant temperature in the collection tube.
Summary of Findings:
Glucose levels declined by 18.2% when serum was stored for 24 h at 24°C on the clot in tubes without a gel barrier (p=0.001) but by only 5.3% when stored at 24°C in tubes with a gel barrier. The decline in glucose levels was attenuated by storage at 4°C instead of 24°C. HDL cholesterol, uric acid and BUN levels were most stable in serum stored at 4°C in collection tubes with a gel barrier. While levels of uric acid and BUN were stable in serum refrigerated for 30 h in tubes containing gel, HDL cholesterol levels were stable for up to 48 h at 4°C in tubes containing gel. Only clinically irrelevant (but statistically significant) changes in the levels of bilirubin were observed when serum was stored in collection tubes containing a gel separator; however, when stored on the clot in serum tubes with no gel separator, clinically relevant decreases were first noted at 18 h, regardless of storage temperature. Clinically and statistically significant increases in the levels of AST were observed when serum was stored on the clot or with a gel barrier at either temperature, but the effects were not linear or consistent. Only statistically insignificant or clinically irrelevant changes in the levels of ALT, CK, LD or cholesterol were observed after storage of serum after centrifugation in the original collection tubes for 72 h at either temperature, regardless of tube type, but longer storage resulted in clinically and statistically relevant changes for one or more storage conditions. Levels of albumin, creatinine, GGT, triglycerides, and alkaline phosphatase were stable for at least 1 week when serum was stored at either temperature on the clot or with a gel barrier.
Biospecimens
Preservative Types
- Other Preservative
- None (Fresh)
Diagnoses:
- Normal
Platform:
Analyte Technology Platform Carbohydrate Clinical chemistry/auto analyzer Small molecule Clinical chemistry/auto analyzer Steroid Clinical chemistry/auto analyzer Lipid Clinical chemistry/auto analyzer Protein Clinical chemistry/auto analyzer Pre-analytical Factors:
Classification Pre-analytical Factor Value(s) Storage Storage temperature 4°C
24°C
Storage Storage duration <30 min
6 h
12 h
18 h
24 h
30 h
36 h
48 h
72 h
1 week
Biospecimen Preservation Type of fixation/preservation None (fresh)
Refrigeration
Biospecimen Acquisition Type of collection container/solution Vacuette tube with gel separator
Vacuette tube without gel separator