Ankur Baruah1, Parul Goyal2, Saket Sinha1, K L Ramesh3, Rashmirasi Datta4. 1. Senior Resident, Department of Biochemistry, Pgimer and Dr RML Hospital , New Delhi, India . 2. Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Pgimer and Dr RML Hospital , New Delhi, India . 3. Head of Department, Department of Biochemistry, Pgimer and Dr RML Hospital , New Delhi, India . 4. Senior Resident, Department of Biochemistry, Lady Hardinge Medical College , New Delhi, India .
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the stability of electrolytes in serum samples due to delay in analysis in a tertiary care government hospital in India, and the maximum time delay acceptable between sample centrifugation and analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We estimated serum electrolytes of 400 samples with different time intervals between centrifugation and sample analysis on automated analyser. RESULTS: Values were compared using repeated measure ANNOVA and acceptable limit change using in house QC values of 6 months. During the time interval between centrifugation and sample analysis, the samples were kept uncovered in sample cups in the laboratory. Potassium values show significant changes within 1 h (T1, p<0.01) but sodium (T2, p <0.01) and chloride (T2, p <0.001) values are acceptable up to a time delay of 3 h between sample centrifugation and analysis. CONCLUSION: Samples for electrolytes should be analysed within 1-2 h of centrifugation and if there is any delay in analysis, the samples should be stored under proper conditions.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the stability of electrolytes in serum samples due to delay in analysis in a tertiary care government hospital in India, and the maximum time delay acceptable between sample centrifugation and analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We estimated serum electrolytes of 400 samples with different time intervals between centrifugation and sample analysis on automated analyser. RESULTS: Values were compared using repeated measure ANNOVA and acceptable limit change using in house QC values of 6 months. During the time interval between centrifugation and sample analysis, the samples were kept uncovered in sample cups in the laboratory. Potassium values show significant changes within 1 h (T1, p<0.01) but sodium (T2, p <0.01) and chloride (T2, p <0.001) values are acceptable up to a time delay of 3 h between sample centrifugation and analysis. CONCLUSION: Samples for electrolytes should be analysed within 1-2 h of centrifugation and if there is any delay in analysis, the samples should be stored under proper conditions.
Authors: Lisa Nwankwo; Kate McLaren; Jackie Donovan; Zhifang Ni; Alberto Vidal-Diaz; Michael Loebinger; Alice Morrisey; Adam Igra; Anand Shah Journal: BMJ Open Qual Date: 2021-08