Effect of delays in processing blood samples on measured endogenous plasma sex hormone levels in women.

Author(s): Jones ME, Folkerd EJ, Doody DA, Iqbal J, Dowsett M, Ashworth A, Swerdlow AJ

Publication: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev, 2007, Vol. 16, Page 1136-9

PubMed ID: 17548675 PubMed Review Paper? No

Purpose of Paper

Conclusion of Paper

Studies

1. Study Purpose

   The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of delayed centrifugation on sex-hormone levels in K3EDTA-plasma from 46 women. All plasma specimens were frozen prior to analysis.

   Summary of Findings:

   While progesterone was unaffected by delaying centrifugation by up to 48 h, estradiol and testosterone levels increased by 7.1% and 23.1%, respectively when centrifugation was delayed by 1 day. SHBG decreased by 5.8% per day and FSH and LH increased by an average of 7.0% and 3.8% per day of delayed centrifugation. The change in estradiol levels with delayed centrifugation was greater for individuals with initial estradiol levels below the median than for those with levels above the median concentration, and the change in levels was also greater among women who had not menstruated within the last 2 months than those that had. The results for testosterone, progesterone, SHBG, LH and FSH were not different between individuals with initial levels above or below the median.

   Biospecimens

   • Bodily Fluid - Blood
   • Bodily Fluid - Plasma

   Preservative Types

   • Frozen

   Diagnoses:

   • Not specified

   Platform:

   Analyte	Technology Platform
   Steroid	Radioimmunoassay
   Glycoprotein	Immunoradiometric assay

   Pre-analytical Factors:

   Classification	Pre-analytical Factor	Value(s)
   Storage	Time at room temperature	0 days 1 day 2 days
   Preaquisition	Biomarker level	<85 pmol/L estradiol >85 pmol/L estradiol <2 nmol/L progesterone >2 nmol/L progesterone <1.20 nmol/L testosterone >1.20 nmol/L testosterone <45.2 nmol/L SHBG >45.2 nmol/L SHBG <10.8 IU/L FSH >10.8 IU/L FSH <16.1 IU/L LH >16.1 IU/L LH
   Preaquisition	Diagnosis/ patient condition	Menstruated within last 2 months No menstruation within the last 2 months
   Biospecimen Aliquots and Components	Centrifugation	Centrifugation delays investigated

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