Plastic versus glass tubes: effects on analytical performance of selected serum and plasma hormone assays.

Author(s): Preissner CM, Reilly WM, Cyr RC, O'Kane DJ, Singh RJ, Grebe SK

Publication: Clin Chem, 2004, Vol. 50, Page 1245-7

PubMed ID: 15229156 PubMed Review Paper? No

Purpose of Paper

Conclusion of Paper

Studies

1. Study Purpose

   This study comparatively assessed hormone (IGF-1, PTH, hCG, insulin, hCG, cortisol, OHPG) and cancer biomarker (CA-125) levels in paired samples collected and stored in plastic and glass tubes at 4 degrees C for 7 days or frozen immediately.

   Summary of Findings:

   Regardless of storage duration, collection tube dependent differences in cortisol, PHPG, hGH, and beta-hCG levels were not observed. Although modest, statistically significant differences among glass and plastic tubes were observed after 7 days of storage at 4 degrees C for insulin and PTH, and IGF-1 levels among Monoject and Griener plastic tubes, respectively, in comparison to glass tubes. CA-125 levels displayed modest but significantly significant differences among all plastic tubes examined, decreasing as a function of storage time, although in comparison to glass tubes, Vacutainer plastic tubes yielded the lease variable results.

   Biospecimens

   • Bodily Fluid - Serum
   • Bodily Fluid - Blood

   Preservative Types

   • Frozen

   Diagnoses:

   • Not specified

   Platform:

   Analyte	Technology Platform
   Protein	Immunoassay
   Peptide	Immunoassay
   Glycoprotein	Immunoassay
   Steroid	Immunoassay
   Steroid	LC-MS or LC-MS/MS

   Pre-analytical Factors:

   Classification	Pre-analytical Factor	Value(s)
   Biospecimen Acquisition	Type of collection container/solution	Glass tube Plastic Vacutainer tube Plastic Monoject tube Plastic Greiner tube
   Storage	Storage duration	0 d 7 d
   Storage	Storage temperature	4 degrees C
   Immunoassay Specific	Targeted peptide/protein	Insulin IGF-1 PTH hGH beta-hCG CA-125 OHPG

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2. Study Purpose

   The purpose of this study was to compare the degree of hemolysis among samples collected and stored in plastic and glass tubes at 4 degrees C for 7 days or frozen immediately, as hemolysis may adversely influence insulin quantification.

   Summary of Findings:

   Hemolysis, measured as both hemoglobin concentration and the proportion of samples displaying significant hemolysis, was elevated in glass compared to plastic Vacutainer tubes. The authors report that plastic Monoject and Greiner tubes displayed results similar to Vacutainer plastic tubes.

   Biospecimens

   • Bodily Fluid - Serum
   • Bodily Fluid - Blood

   Preservative Types

   • Frozen

   Diagnoses:

   • Not specified

   Platform:

   Analyte	Technology Platform
   Protein	Hematology/ auto analyzer

   Pre-analytical Factors:

   Classification	Pre-analytical Factor	Value(s)
   Biospecimen Acquisition	Type of collection container/solution	Glass tube Plastic Vacutainer tube Plastic Monoject tube Plastic Greiner tube
   Storage	Storage duration	0 d 7 d
   Storage	Storage temperature	4 degrees C

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3. Study Purpose

   This study comparatively assessed ACTH levels in paired samples collected and stored in plastic and glass tubes at 4 degrees C for 0, 4, or 24 hours.

   Summary of Findings:

   ACTH levels did not differ among glass, siliconized glass, or plastic Vacutainer tubes, although levels displayed a modest and nonsignificant downward trend with increasing storage duration at 4 degrees C for all tubes analyzed.

   Biospecimens

   • Bodily Fluid - Serum
   • Bodily Fluid - Blood

   Preservative Types

   • Frozen

   Diagnoses:

   • Not specified

   Platform:

   Analyte	Technology Platform
   Peptide	Immunoassay

   Pre-analytical Factors:

   Classification	Pre-analytical Factor	Value(s)
   Biospecimen Acquisition	Type of collection container/solution	Siliconized EDTA glass tubes EDTA glass tubes EDTA plastic Vacutainer tubes
   Storage	Storage duration	0 h 4 h 24 h
   Storage	Storage temperature	4 degrees C

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