title: The effect of sample storage on the reliability of thyroglobulin and thyroglobulin-antibody measurements.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate how sample-storage alters thyroglobulin (Tg) and thyroglobulin-antibody (TgAb) immunoreactivity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tg and TgAb measurements at different storage-times and -temperatures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  48-h-storage at 4-10 degrees C (but not 8 h at room temperature) increased Tg and decreased TgAb immunoreactivity by maximum +23% and -16%. 4-weeks-storage at -17 to -20 degrees C decreased both Tg and TgAb by max. 21-31%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Storage of samples at 4-10 degrees C for >24-48 h, or at -17 to -20 degrees C for >2-3 weeks significantly alters Tg and TgAb immunoreactivity.
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Medicine, Markusovszky Teaching Hospital of County Vas, Szombathely, Hungary.
authors.forename: Zoltán
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Locsei
authors.forename: Erzsébet
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Toldy
authors.forename: István
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Szabolcs
authors.forename: Károly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rácz
authors.forename: Gábor L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Kovács
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000592:standards*; D013696:Temperature; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000032:analysis*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; C006606:anti-thyroglobulin; D013954:Thyroglobulin