Stability of common biochemistry analytes in equine blood stored at room temperature.
Abstract: Time delays between collection of blood samples and biochemical analysis of equine blood are unavoidably common in equine practice. The effect that delays may have on the accuracy of results of blood biochemical analyses is not well established. Objective: Delays in processing of blood of up to 72 h results in alterations in measured levels of common biochemical analytes that are of potential clinical relevance. Separation of serum prior to storage is protective against the effects of time delays. Methods: Samples of clotted blood, separated serum and oxalate fluoride plasma from 20 horses were stored and analysed at 0, 24, 48 and 72 h. Graphical exploration of each analyte was undertaken. General linear models with fixed effects were fitted for the whole blood data. The mean bias and 95% limits of agreement were calculated, using bootstrapped data, to assess agreement between pairs of samples analysed at 0 h and other time points. Bland-Altman plots were used to explore general trends in the data. Paired t tests were used to compare the results from whole blood and separated serum. Results: Delays in processing equine blood resulted in significant increases in measured concentrations of aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, total bile acids and magnesium. A significant decrease in concentration was identified for glucose (serum and oxalate fluoride preserved plasma). Separation of serum immediately following clot formation resulted in nonsignificant increases in accuracy for some analytes. CONCLUSIONS AND PRACTICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Delays in processing of blood samples may result in biochemical changes of clinical relevance in individual cases; however, in the majority of cases, where delays are only a few days and a number of analytes are assessed concurrently, delays are unlikely to have an effect on the interpretation of results. Separation of serum following clot formation is of limited benefit. Clinical samples in which a delay in processing has occurred may be interpreted with reference to the data presented.
Publication Date: 2009-08-01 PubMed ID: 19642401DOI: 10.2746/042516409x370928Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research paper discusses how time delays between blood collection and biochemical analysis can have impacts on the measured levels of common biochemical analytes in horse blood. The study also indicates how the separation of the serum can reduce the effects of these time delays.
Objectives and Methods
- The primary objective of the research was to evaluate how time delays in processing horse blood can lead to alterations in the measured levels of common biochemical analytes. This has the potential to affect clinical relevance.
- Another objective was to assess the efficacy of separating serum prior to storage as a protective measure against the effects of time delays.
- The study utilised samples of clotted blood, separated serum and oxalate fluoride plasma from 20 horses, which were stored and analysed at different time intervals – 0 hours (immediately), 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours.
- The research employed graphical exploration, general linear models, t-tests, and Bland-Altman plots to explore trends, assess agreement between different time points and compare results.
Results
- The study found that as time lapses increased, significant increases were observed in the measured concentrations of several biochemical analytes, such as aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, total bile acids and magnesium.
- In contrast, the glucose concentration was found to significantly decrease with time, observed both in serum and oxalate fluoride preserved plasma.
- Separating serum immediately following clot formation led to non-significant increases in accuracy for certain analytes. Therefore, the efficacy of this intervention was found to be limited.
Conclusions
- According to the results of the study, the delays in processing of blood samples can cause alterations in biochemical parameters that may be clinically relevant in individual cases.
- In most cases where delays are only a few days, and multiple analytes are assessed together, these delays are unlikely to significantly influence result interpretation.
- Separating serum following clot formation seems to offer only limited benefits.
- The data presented in this research can be used for interpretation in clinical scenarios where there has been a delay in sample processing.
Cite This Article
APA
Rendle DI, Heller J, Hughes KJ, Innocent GT, Durham AE.
(2009).
Stability of common biochemistry analytes in equine blood stored at room temperature.
Equine Vet J, 41(5), 428-432.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516409x370928 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- The Liphook Equine Hospital, Forest Mere, Liphook, Hampshire GU30 7JG, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Blood Chemical Analysis / veterinary
- Blood Preservation
- Horses / blood
- Specimen Handling / veterinary
- Temperature
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Buckley P, Buckley DJ, Freire R, Hughes KJ. Pre-race and race management impacts serum muscle enzyme activity in Australian endurance horses. Equine Vet J 2022 Sep;54(5):895-904.
- Hu K, Stewart AJ, Yuen KY, Hinrichsen S, Dryburgh EL, Bertin FR. The effect of freeze-thaw cycles on determination of immunoreactive plasma adrenocorticotrophic hormone concentrations in horses. J Vet Intern Med 2020 May;34(3):1350-1356.
- Hillström A, Tvedten H, Lilliehöök I. Evaluation of an in-clinic Serum Amyloid A (SAA) assay and assessment of the effects of storage on SAA samples. Acta Vet Scand 2010 Feb 2;52(1):8.
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