title: Sample preparation for plasma measurement of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 antigen in large population studies.
abstract: Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 is important in regulating fibrinolysis and may be an important cardiovascular risk factor. Because of this, there is increased interest in performing plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 assays in large epidemiologic studies. Our aim in this study was to determine the simplest blood collection methods that yield accurate results with our plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 antigen assay. Our results indicate that the following issues are important: (1) since there is a large circadian variation in plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 plasma levels, a target time frame must be established; (2) commercially available citrate collection tubes are adequate, if sample processing is rapid; (3) careful venipuncture is necessary, with freely flowing collection; hemolysis must be avoided; and (4) centrifugation of at least 30,000 g.min is required to avoid platelet contamination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Vermont, Burlington.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Macy
authors.forename: E N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Meilahn
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Declerck
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Tracy
mesh_terms: D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000379:methods; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000097:blood*; D012016:Reference Values; D014461:Ultracentrifugation / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1