title: Effect of delayed serum separation and storage temperature on serum glucose concentration in horse, dog, alpaca, and sturgeon.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although delays between blood sample collection and analysis are common in veterinary medicine, the effect of prolonged serum-clot contact time on serum glucose concentration is not well established and species differences have not been elucidated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to investigate the effect of storage time and temperature on serum glucose concentration in stored whole blood samples from horse, dog, alpaca, and sturgeon.
  
  
  METHODS
  Whole blood specimens were divided into 7 no-additive tubes and serum was separated from one sample within one hour, serving as the reference sample. The remaining samples were stored at 4°C and 25°C, then centrifuged and serum glucose measured by automated analysis at 2, 4, and 8 hours postcollection. Glucose concentrations were compared using linear mixed models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The decline in serum glucose concentration for all samples stored at 4°C was not statistically significant, except for the 8-hour samples from sturgeon and dog. At 25°C, serum glucose concentration was comparable to reference values at 2 hours in sturgeon and alpaca, but significantly lower at 4 and 8 hours in those species, and at all time points in equine and canine specimens, being most prominent after 8 hours of storage in canine specimens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Storage at 4°C limits serum glucose decline for at least 4 hours in all species tested and up to 8 hours in specimens of horse and alpaca. At 25°C, serum-clot contact time should not exceed 1 hour in equine and canine samples, and 2 hours in specimens from alpaca and sturgeon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Nancy B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Collicutt
authors.forename: Bridget
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Garner
authors.forename: Roy D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Berghaus
authors.forename: Melinda S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Camus
authors.forename: Kelsey
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hart
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002161:Camelids, New World; D002498:Centrifugation / Q000662:veterinary; D043344:Chordata; D004285:Dogs; D006403:Hematologic Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D006736:Horses; D012016:Reference Values; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000662:veterinary*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose
keywords: Artifact; erythrocytes; hypoglycemia; metabolism; preanalytic