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Stability of plasma homocysteine, S-adenosylmethionine, and S-adenosylhomocysteine in EDTA, acidic citrate, and Primavette collection tubes.

Author(s): Hübner U, Schorr H, Eckert R, Geisel J, Herrmann W

Publication: Clin Chem, 2007, Vol. 53, Page 2217-8

PubMed ID: 18267932 PubMed Review Paper? No

Purpose of Paper

The purpose of this paper was to determine the stability of homocysteine (Hcy) and its precursors S-adenosyl-Hcy (SAH) and S-adenosyl-methionine (SAM) after storage of whole blood specimens at room temperature or 4 degrees C for up to 24 hours in EDTA, acidic citrate or Primavette tubes.

Conclusion of Paper

Hcy was stabilized in acidic citrate tubes and, to an even greater degree, in Primavette tubes at room temperature, presumably due to decreased SAH hydrolase activity. However, Hcy increased 1.8 fold in EDTA tubes stored at room temperature. In EDTA tubes, the increase in Hcy seen after storage at room temperature was even greater for renal patients than for healthy volunteers (p<0.001). Storage at 4 degrees C attenuated changes in Hcy, SAH and SAM regardless of tube type. Baseline values of Hcy were 11% lower using HPLC than when fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) was used on Primavette specimens but no other differences were observed between the two methods.

Studies

  1. Study Purpose

    The purpose of this study was to determine the stability of Hcy, SAH, and SAM after storage of whole blood specimens at room temperature or 4 degrees C for up to 24 hours in either EDTA, acidic citrate or Primavette tubes. Specimens were obtained from both healthy volunteers and renal patients.

    Summary of Findings:

    Hcy was stabilized in acidic citrate tubes and, to an even greater degree, in Primavette tubes at room temperature, presumably due to blocked SAH hydrolase activity. In EDTA tubes, Hcy showed a 1.8-fold increase after 24 hours at room temperature. SAH increased in all three tube types stored at room temperature, but SAM decreased in EDTA tubes, and to a lesser extent in acidic citrate tubes, SAM remained stable in Primavette tubes. In EDTA tubes, the increase in Hcy seen after storage at room temperature was even greater for renal patients than for healthy volunteers (p<0.001). Storage at 4 degrees C attenuated all changes in Hcy, SAH and SAM. Baseline values of Hcy were 11% lower for HPLC than FPIA for Primavette specimens but no other differences were observed between the two methods.

    Biospecimens
    Preservative Types
    • None (Fresh)
    Diagnoses:
    • Normal
    • Other diagnoses
    Platform:
    AnalyteTechnology Platform
    Small molecule HPLC
    Small molecule Immunoassay
    Small molecule LC-MS or LC-MS/MS
    Pre-analytical Factors:
    ClassificationPre-analytical FactorValue(s)
    Biospecimen Acquisition Anticoagulant Buffered acidic citrate
    EDTA
    Primavette
    Storage Storage temperature 4 degrees C
    Room temperature
    Storage Storage duration 0 h
    2 h
    6 h
    24 h
    Preaquisition Diagnosis/ patient condition Healthy
    Renal condition
    HPLC Specific Technology platform Fluorescence polarization immunoassay
    Biospecimen Aliquots and Components Centrifugation Centrifugation delays investigated
    View more

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