Effects of storage in the cold on activity of gamma-glutamyltransferase in serum.

Sera from patients with hepatobiliary disorders were selected to represent a wide range of activity of gamma-glutamyltransferase (EC 2.3.2.2). Samples were stored at 4 degrees C and periodically tested for as long as nine weeks, others at -6 degrees C for as long as 40 weeks. The frozen-stored samples were thawed and then frozen again after each testing. The activity of the enzyme was essentially unchanged under both conditions of storage. These results are consistent with comments in the literature on the enzyme's stability.