The effects of 0.1 and 1.0 per cent erythrocytes and hemolysis on serum chemistry values.

Changes in serum chemistry values as a result of incomplete removal of erythrocytes and in vitro hemolysis during the preparative process have been studied. Two levels of contamination, corresponding to removal of 99% and 99.9% of the erythrocytes, were used to examine the effects of both hemolyzed and intact cells. Forty chemical procedures and methods were considered. Serum LDH values were most strongly affected by hemolyzed erythrocytes. Potassium, creatine phosphokinase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and iron showed smaller but significant effects due to the presence of 1% hemolyzed cells, with lesser effects observed at the 0.1% level. The presence of non-hemolyzed cells at either level did not significantly alter chemistry results.