title: Speed of sample transportation by a pneumatic tube system can influence the degree of hemolysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of the study was to find the incidence of hemolysis in samples transported through a pneumatic tube system (PTS) at different speeds.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective observational study was done in three phases: "short distance and high speed (115 m at 3 m/s)", "long distance and high speed (225 m at 3 m/s)" and "short distance and slow speed (115 at 2 m/s)". Fifty-two, 215 and 45 serum tube pairs, respectively, were evaluated in these three phases. A set of tubes was sent by PTS while the other was hand-carried. Samples were analyzed for supernatant hemoglobin (Hb), potassium (K+) and lactate dehydrogenase (LD).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean transit time of samples through the PTS was much shorter as compared to human courier in all three phases. LD was elevated in PTS arm in the "short distance and high speed" phase and in the "long distance and high speed" phase, all three indices of hemolysis - Hb, K+ and LD - showed elevation in the PTS arm. However, at "short distance and slow speed" phase, there was no hemolysis in the PTS arm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hospitals should validate their PTS before use and, by altering speed of sample transportation, hemolysis may be obliterated.
authors: Department of Transfusion Medicine, Medanta-The Medicity Hospital, Haryana, India. aseemtwr@yahoo.co.in
authors: Aseem Kumar
authors: AK
authors: Tiwari
authors: Prashant
authors: P
authors: Pandey
authors: Surbhi
authors: S
authors: Dixit
authors: Vimarsh
authors: V
authors: Raina
mesh_terms: D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D011188:Potassium