Pre-analytical stability of adrenocorticotrophic hormone from healthy horses in whole blood, plasma and frozen plasma samples.

This research study investigates the stability of the hormone ACTH in horse blood samples under different storage conditions and durations. The findings show that the concentration of ACTH decreases after a certain period, but remains stable when frozen, suggesting that blood samples storing this hormone can be frozen for a month or kept for eight hours without major loss in ACTH concentrations.

Objective and Methodology of the Study

• The main objective of this study was to determine the stability of the equine adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) in whole blood and plasma samples stored under different conditions and durations.
• To achieve this, nine horses were chosen as subjects and their ACTH concentrations were measured after storage as whole blood or plasma under various temperatures, -20 and -80 °C, 4 and 21 °C, for up to 30 days.

Key Findings of the Research

• The researchers found that the ACTH concentration significantly reduced at 24 hours. However, this concentration remained stable when the plasma was frozen at -20 and -80 °C for 30 days.
• The study further found that samples that were stored at 21 °C experienced a greater reduction in ACTH concentrations than those that were stored at 4 °C after 24 hours.

Implications of the Research

• Based on these results, the researchers concluded that these samples can be stored for 8 hours without the need for centrifugation.
• Alternatively, the samples could be frozen for 30 days without experiencing significant reductions in ACTH concentrations.
• These insights are particularly useful for researchers and practitioners working with horse blood samples for ACTH testing, offering guidance on best practices for preserving sample integrity.