title: The effect of delayed transportation of blood samples on serum bilirubin values in neonates.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Delays in transporting blood samples may cause inaccurate results. Samples may be exposed to light or heat during delays, resulting in the degradation of analytes, for example, bilirubin. This study was done to determine the effect of delays in the transportation of blood samples on serum bilirubin test results.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples taken from neonates admitted to a tertiary hospital with jaundice were included in the study. The samples were collected through venipuncture in 3 labelled containers. The first container was sent immediately to the laboratory, while the second and third containers were sent after being kept in the ward for 1 and 3 hours, respectively. Bilirubin values were measured colourimetrically at a wavelength of 578 nm using a Roche Hitachi 912 Chemistry Analyser upon arrival in the laboratory.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 36 serum samples were studied. The mean of the indirect bilirubin measurements for 0-, 1-, and 3-hour samples were 174 (SD 68.65), 186.97 (SD 60.47), and 184.56 (SD 66.93), respectively. There was a significant difference in the mean indirect bilirubin measurement of 1-hour samples (P = 0.047, 95% CI -24.66 to -1.18) and 3-hour samples (P = 0.045, 95% CI -19.77 to -0.23) compared with 0-hour samples. There were no significant differences observed in either the mean total bilirubin or the mean direct bilirubin measurements of different time intervals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study confirms that delays in the transportation of blood samples influence the bilirubin test results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia Health Campus, 16150, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Poovendran
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saththasivam
authors.forename: Kirtanaa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Voralu
authors.forename: Noraida
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ramli
authors.forename: Mohd Rafi
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Mustapha
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Omar
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Van Rostenberghe