Cancer Diagnosis Program | Biorepositories and Biospecimen Research Branch

Search BRD Papers

Studies of the stability of 18 chemical constituents of human serum.

Author(s): Wilson SS, Guillan RA, Hocker EV

Publication: Clin Chem, 1972, Vol. 18, Page 1498-503

PubMed ID: 4639860 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 storage temperature and duration on the levels of clinical chemistry analytes in serum. Leftover serum was pooled and frozen at the end of each collection day and used for this study.

   Summary of Findings:

   Potassium, sodium, chloride, albumin and urea nitrogen were the only analytes unaffected by storage for up to 42 days at -10, 4, 23-27, or 37 degrees C. The direction of change for all other analytes was temperature, duration and analyte-dependent. Calcium and phosphorous were altered by storage of serum for 34 days or more at -10 degrees C, but all other analytes were unaffected by storage of serum at this temperature. Alkaline phosphatase and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were stable at -10 degrees C for the entire 42 days but were unstable at all other temperatures. Bilirubin (direct and total), glucose, cholesterol, and lactate dehydrogenase (LD) were affected by storage of serum for any time at 37 degrees C, but were slightly more stable in serum stored at 4 degrees C or room temperature. Creatinine and total protein levels were only affected by storage of serum at 37 degrees C for more than 14 or 25 days, respectively. Carbon dioxide, and uric acid were affected by storage of serum at 4 degrees C for more than 12 and 6 days, respectively, or storage of serum at 37 degrees C for more than 14 and 18 days, respectively, but only carbon dioxide was affected by storage at room temperature.

   Biospecimens

   • Bodily Fluid - Serum

   Preservative Types

   • Frozen

   Diagnoses:

   • Not specified

   Platform:

   Analyte	Technology Platform
   Carbohydrate	Clinical chemistry/auto analyzer
   Electrolyte/Metal	Clinical chemistry/auto analyzer
   Protein	Clinical chemistry/auto analyzer
   Steroid	Clinical chemistry/auto analyzer
   Small molecule	Clinical chemistry/auto analyzer

   Pre-analytical Factors:

   Classification	Pre-analytical Factor	Value(s)
   Storage	Storage temperature	-10 degrees C 4 degrees C 23-27 degrees C 37 degrees C
   Storage	Storage duration	0-42 days

   View more