title: Blood sample processing effect on eosinophil cationic protein concentration.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Asthma is considered to be an inflammatory disease. The most important cell involved in the inflammation is the eosinophil. These cells and their mediators, such as eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), are potential markers of the inflammation's severity. Eosinophil cationic protein may be used for monitoring antiasthma treatment. It is well known that sample processing conditions can affect the ECP blood levels.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this work is to study the effect of temperature, time, and anticoagulants on ECP levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied five asthmatic patients and five healthy controls. We obtained three different blood samples from each subject, one with heparin, one with EDTA, and one without anticoagulant. To evaluate the effect of temperature, serum samples were clotted for an hour, one at 0 degree C, one at room temperature, and the other at 37 degrees C. Plasma (heparin and EDTA) samples were treated as follows: one was immediately centrifuged, and two were stored for an hour, one at 0 degree C, and the other at room temperature. Eosinophil cationic protein levels were measured by fluoroimmunoassay (CAP-System ECP FEIA Pharmacia).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A higher temperature during blood clotting resulted in a higher ECP concentration. There were no differences between ECP determination in serum samples and plasma samples with heparin, under the same conditions of time and temperature; so clotting may not be necessary for ECP release in vitro. Eosinophil cationic protein was not released in plasma samples with EDTA, neither at 0 degree C nor room temperature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More studies must be done to clarify the mechanism of the ECP release in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rubira
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rodrigo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pena
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nogueiras
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cadahia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000097:blood; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008875:Middle Aged; D012260:Ribonucleases; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D001798:Blood Proteins; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D012260:Ribonucleases