title: The effect on creatinine kinase activity of freezing plasma from healthy foals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the stability of creatine kinase (CK) activity in plasma collected from healthy foals and frozen at -20 degrees C for up to 12 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples of venous blood drawn from 25 foals were analysed for CK activity soon after collection, and again after 1 and 12 weeks of freezing at -20 degrees C.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CK activity decreased (p<0.001) between Week 0 and Week 1 and between Week 0 and Week 12.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Decreases in CK activity were statistically significant but clinically insignificant.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand. S.F.Forsyth@massey.ac.nz
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Forsyth
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lopez-Villalobos
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Rogers
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000378:metabolism*; D005615:Freezing; D006736:Horses / Q000378:metabolism*; D010949:Plasma / Q000201:enzymology*; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003402:Creatine Kinase