title: Evaluation of sample hemolysis in blood collected by S-Monovette using vacuum or aspiration mode.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In vitro hemolysis can be induced by several biological and technical sources, and may be worsened by forced aspiration of blood in vacuum tubes. This study was aimed to compare the probability of hemolysis by drawing blood with a commercial evacuated blood collection tube, and S-Monovette used either in the "vacuum" or "aspiration" mode.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted in 20 healthy volunteers. A sample was drawn into 4.0 mL BD Vacutainer serum tube from a vein of one upper arm. Two other samples were drawn with a second venipuncture from a vein of the opposite arm, into 4.0 mL S-Monovette serum tubes, by both vacuum an aspiration modes. After separation, serum potassium, lactate dehydrogenase (LD) and hemolysis index (HI) were tested on Beckman Coulter DxC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In no case the HI exceed the limit of significant hemolysis. As compared with BD Vacutainer, no significant differences were observed for potassium and LD using S-Monovette with vacuum method. Significant increased values of both parameters were however found in serum collected into BD Vacutainer and S-Monovette by vacuum mode, compared to serum drawn by S-Monovette in aspiration mode. The mean potassium bias was 2.2% versus BD Vacutainer and 2.4% versus S-Monovette in vacuum mode, that of LD was 2.7% versus BD Vacutainer and 2.1% versus S-Monovette in vacuum mode. None of these variations exceeded the allowable total error.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although no significant macro-hemolysis was observed with any collection system, the less chance of producing micro-hemolysis by S-Monovette in aspiration mode suggest that this device may be used when a difficult venipuncture combined with the vacuum may increase the probability of spurious hemolysis.
authors: U.O. di Diagnostica Ematochimica, Dipartimento di Patologia e Medicina di Laboratorio, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Italy. glippi@ao.pr.it
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Lippi
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Avanzini
authors: Roberta
authors: R
authors: Musa
authors: Franca
authors: F
authors: Sandei
authors: Rosalia
authors: R
authors: Aloe
authors: Gianfranco
authors: G
authors: Cervellin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018962:Phlebotomy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D013396:Suction / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014618:Vacuum
chemical_list: D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D011188:Potassium