Giuseppe Lippi1, Gian Luca Salvagno2, Elisa Danese2, Gabriel Lima-Oliveira3, Giorgio Brocco2, Gian Cesare Guidi3. 1. Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, Academic Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy. Electronic address: glippi@ao.pr.it. 2. Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry, Department of Life and Reproduction Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy. 3. Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry, Department of Life and Reproduction Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy; Post-Graduate Program of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Medical Pathology Federal University of Parana, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study was planned to establish whether random orientation of gel tubes after centrifugation may impair sample quality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight gel tubes were collected from 17 volunteers: 2 Becton Dickinson (BD) serum tubes, 2 Terumo serum tubes, 2 BD lithium heparin tubes and 2 Terumo lithium heparin tubes. One patient's tube for each category was kept in a vertical, closure-up position for 90 min ("upright"), whereas paired tubes underwent bottom-up inversion every 15 min, for 90 min ("inverted"). Immediately after this period of time, 14 clinical chemistry analytes, serum indices and complete blood count were then assessed in all tubes. RESULTS: Significant increases were found for phosphate and lipaemic index in all inverted tubes, along with AST, calcium, cholesterol, LDH, potassium, hemolysis index, leukocytes, erythrocytes and platelets limited to lithium heparin tubes. The desirable quality specifications were exceeded for AST, LDH, and potassium in inverted lithium heparin tubes. Residual leukocytes, erythrocytes, platelets and cellular debris were also significantly increased in inverted lithium heparin tubes. CONCLUSIONS: Lithium heparin gel tubes should be maintained in a vertical, closure-up position after centrifugation.
BACKGROUND: This study was planned to establish whether random orientation of gel tubes after centrifugation may impair sample quality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight gel tubes were collected from 17 volunteers: 2 Becton Dickinson (BD) serum tubes, 2 Terumo serum tubes, 2 BD lithium heparin tubes and 2 Terumo lithium heparin tubes. One patient's tube for each category was kept in a vertical, closure-up position for 90 min ("upright"), whereas paired tubes underwent bottom-up inversion every 15 min, for 90 min ("inverted"). Immediately after this period of time, 14 clinical chemistry analytes, serum indices and complete blood count were then assessed in all tubes. RESULTS: Significant increases were found for phosphate and lipaemic index in all inverted tubes, along with AST, calcium, cholesterol, LDH, potassium, hemolysis index, leukocytes, erythrocytes and platelets limited to lithium heparin tubes. The desirable quality specifications were exceeded for AST, LDH, and potassium in inverted lithium heparin tubes. Residual leukocytes, erythrocytes, platelets and cellular debris were also significantly increased in inverted lithium heparin tubes. CONCLUSIONS:Lithium heparin gel tubes should be maintained in a vertical, closure-up position after centrifugation.
Authors: Gabriel Lima-Oliveira; Gian Cesare Guidi; Andre Valpassos Pacifici Guimaraes; Jose Abol Correa; Giuseppe Lippi Journal: J Med Biochem Date: 2017-01-25 Impact factor: 3.402
Authors: Carlos Fernando Yauli Flores; Ángela de Las Mercedes Hurtado Pineda; Victoria Maritza Cevallos Bonilla; Klever Sáenz-Flor Journal: EJIFCC Date: 2020-03-20