Pre-analytical effects of different lithium heparin plasma separation tubes in the routine clinical chemistry laboratory.

Author(s): Brandhorst G, Engelmayer J, Götze S, Oellerich M, von Ahsen N

Publication: Clin Chem Lab Med, 2011, Vol. 49, Page 1473-7

PubMed ID: 21605014 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 collection tube type and storage duration on the measurement of 15 different clinical chemistry analytes in plasma. After centrifugation, specimens were stored at 4 degrees in the original collection tubes until analysis at the indicated time points.

   Summary of Findings:

   Almost all analytes measured in this study showed significant changes after storage in plasma separation tubes, regardless of tube manufacturer. In general, aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine, hemolysis index, LDH, lipemia index, K, sodium, and chloride increased with storage duration and alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, creatine kinase, and GLUC decreased. Blood urea nitrogen showed little change, and gamma-glutamyltransferase and alanine aminotransferase showed variable changes with storage time that were dependant on collection tube type. GLUC, K, and LDH showed the largest, most clinically significant changes with storage after centrifugation. For almost all parameters, significant differences were seen between storage in the 4 plasma separation tubes and in the S-Monovette lithium heparin tubes with a manually installed valve separator and no gel separator, the latter showing smaller changes in analyte levels over time.

   Biospecimens

   • Bodily Fluid - Blood
   • Bodily Fluid - Plasma

   Preservative Types

   • None (Fresh)

   Diagnoses:

   • Normal

   Platform:

   Analyte	Technology Platform
   Protein	Clinical chemistry/auto analyzer
   Electrolyte/Metal	Clinical chemistry/auto analyzer
   Carbohydrate	Clinical chemistry/auto analyzer
   Small molecule	Clinical chemistry/auto analyzer
   Cell count/volume	Clinical chemistry/auto analyzer

   Pre-analytical Factors:

   Classification	Pre-analytical Factor	Value(s)
   Storage	Storage duration	Less than 30 min 24 h 72 h
   Biospecimen Acquisition	Type of collection container/solution	BD Vacutainer lithium heparin PST II gel Vacuette lithium heparin gel Primavette V sepa lithium heparin rubber separation system S-Monovette lithium heparin gel S-Monovette lithium heparin with manually installed valve separator

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