title: The effect of the temperature and duration of sample storage on the measurement of lymphocyte subpopulations from HIV-1-positive and control subjects.
abstract: EDTA-anticoagulated blood samples from 19 HIV-1-positive subjects and 13 healthy laboratory worker controls were analysed for three lymphocyte subpopulations (CD3, CD4, CD8 T cells) (lysed whole blood method, Becton Dickinson FACScan flow cytometer) at 0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h after venesection, having been stored at either 4 degrees C, 12 degrees C, 16 degrees C or 21 degrees C. In samples stored at 4 degrees C and 12 degrees C there was a significant fall in both %CD3 and %CD 4, and a significant rise in %CD8. At 16 degrees C the %CD8 remained stable, while there were marginal rises in %CD3 and %CD4. At 21 degrees C, the %CD8 again remained stable, while %CD3 and %CD4 rose significantly with time. These trends were independent of HIV-1 status. At each temperature studied, the rates of change of lymphocyte subpopulations were independent of each other. These results suggest that a temperature range of 14-16 degrees C may be optimal for sample storage prior to measurement of T cell subsets. They emphasise the importance of strict control on conditions if samples are to be kept for any length of time before analysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, St Mary's Hospital Medical School, Paddington, London, UK.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ekong
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gompels
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Pinching
mesh_terms: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D001793:Blood Preservation; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D008297:Male; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000032:analysis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell