title: Stability of 35 biochemical and immunological routine tests after 10 hours storage and transport of human whole blood at 21°C.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Suitable procedures for transport of blood samples from general practitioners to hospital laboratories are requested. Here we explore routine testing on samples stored and transported as whole blood in lithium-heparin or serum tubes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were collected from 106 hospitalized patients, and analyzed on Architect c8000 or Advia Centaur XP for 35 analytes at base line, and after storage and transport of whole blood in lithium-heparin or serum tubes at 21 ± 1°C for 10 h. Bias and imprecision (representing variation from analysis and storage) were calculated from values at baseline and after storage, and differences tested by paired t-tests. Results were compared to goals set by the laboratory.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed no statistically significant bias and results within the goal for imprecision between baseline samples and 10-h samples for albumin, alkaline phosphatase, antitrypsin, bilirubin, creatinine, free triiodothyronine, γ-glutamyl transferase, haptoglobin, immunoglobulin G, lactate dehydrogenase, prostate specific antigen, total carbon dioxide, and urea. Alanine aminotransferase, amylase, C-reactive protein, calcium, cholesterol, creatine kinase, ferritin, free thyroxine, immunoglobulin A, immunoglobulin M, orosomucoid, sodium, transferrin, and triglycerides met goals for imprecision, though they showed a minor, but statistically significant bias in results after storage. Cobalamin, folate, HDL-cholesterol, iron, phosphate, potassium, thyroid stimulating hormone and urate warranted concern, but only folate and phosphate showed deviations of clinical importance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that whole blood in lithium-heparin or serum tubes stored for 10 h at 21 ± 1°C, may be used for routine analysis without restrictions for all investigated analytes but folate and phosphate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Regional Hospital West Jutland , Herning and Holstebro , Denmark.
authors.forename: Linda O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Henriksen
authors.forename: Nina R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Faber
authors.forename: Mette F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Moller
authors.forename: Ebba
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nexo
authors.forename: Annebirthe B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Hansen
mesh_terms: D001769:Blood / Q000378:metabolism; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards*; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007159:Immunologic Tests / Q000592:standards; D011786:Quality Control; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014186:Transportation
keywords: Folic acid; laboratory test; phosphate; potassium; pre-analytical; sample transportation; storage temperature; storage time