Stability of twenty-five analytes in human serum at 22 degrees C, 4 degrees C, and -20 degrees C.

Author(s): Donnelly JG, Soldin SJ, Nealon DA, Hicks JM

Publication: Pediatr Pathol Lab Med, 1995, Vol. 15, Page 869-74

PubMed ID: 8705197 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 25 clinical chemistry analytes in serum. Serum from four volunteers was pooled into two pools, aliquoted and stored in the dark at room temperature (0-48 h), 4 degrees C (0-8 days), and -20 degrees C (0-4 months). One pool was analyzed 3 times for each analyte, while the other was analyzed 5 times.

   Summary of Findings:

   ALT, AP, AST, and HDLC generally increased with increasing storage duration at room temperature, but HDLC levels were lower in specimens stored at room temperature for 8 h than in fresh specimens. Amylase, LDH and CO2 generally decreased with increasing storage at room temperature, but CO2 levels were higher in specimens stored for 8 h at room temperature than in fresh specimens. ALT and AST levels increased during the first 2 days and between 4-8 days of storage at 4 degrees C, but levels of ALT and AST decreased between 2 and 4 days of storage at 4 degrees C. Amylase and LDH decreased progressively with storage at 4 degrees C, and AP, AST and CO2 were generally lower after storage at 4 degrees C than in fresh specimens but did not decrease linearly. ALT, amylase, AP, AST, CO2, HDLC, and LDH generally decreased with increasing storage durations at -20 degrees C, but AST and LDH were higher after 8 days of frozen storage than in fresh specimens, and HDLC was higher in specimens stored frozen for 2 months than at any other time point. Storage had no effect on levels of glucose, blood urea nitrogen, sodium, potassium, chloride, creatinine, calcium, phosphorous, uric acid, total protein, albumin, triglycerides, lipase, creatinine kinase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, iron, magnesium or cholesterol.

   Biospecimens

   • Bodily Fluid - Serum

   Preservative Types

   • Frozen
   • Other Preservative
   • None (Fresh)

   Diagnoses:

   • Normal

   Platform:

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

   Pre-analytical Factors:

   Classification	Pre-analytical Factor	Value(s)
   Biospecimen Preservation	Type of fixation/preservation	Frozen None (fresh) Refrigeration
   Storage	Storage temperature	22 degrees C 4 degrees C -20 degrees C
   Storage	Storage duration	0 h 8 h 24 h 36 h 48 h 4 days 1 weeks 8 days 14 days 1 month 2 months 3 months 4 months

   View more