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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · J Lab Physicians 2017; 9(01): 011-015
DOI: 10.4103/0974-2727.187928
Original Article

Study of the Stability of Various Biochemical Analytes in Samples Stored at Different Predefined Storage Conditions at an Accredited Laboratory of India

Kamal Kachhawa
Department of Biochemistry, Mahaveer Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
,
Poonam Kachhawa
Department of Biochemistry, Saraswathi Institute of Medical Sciences, Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, India
,
Meena Varma
Department of Biochemistry, Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
,
Rasmirekha Behera
Department of Pharmacology, IMS and SUM Hospital, SOA University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
,
Divya Agrawal
Department of Anatomy, Mahaveer Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
,
Sanjay Kumar
Department of Pharmacology, Mahaveer Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
› Author Affiliations Financial support and sponsorship Nil.
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ABSTRACT

Background: Storage of serum and other blood products is often necessary in laboratories because of technical issues or to preserve samples for subsequent research purposes. The aim of this study was to determine whether the stability of biochemical analytes is affected by storage conditions.

Materials and Methods: A total of 17 biochemical analytes in the sera of ten patients were examined following storage. Subsequent to determining the baseline measurements, the serum of each patient was aliquoted and stored at −20°C for 7, 15, and 30 days and then analyzed for stability. The results were compared with the initial analysis measurements obtained from fresh samples. Mean changes compared to baseline (T0) concentrations were evaluated both statistically and clinically.

Results: Our results show that sodium, potassium, urea, creatinine, uric acid, total calcium, phosphorus, direct bilirubin, total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total protein, albumin, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were stable under all conditions. Serum amylase was the only analyte demonstrating instability following prolonged storage; amylase levels changed significantly (both statistically and clinically) at 7, 15, and 30 days (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Most common biochemical analytes, except for amylase, showed adequate stability in serum following 30 days of storage at −20°C. Serum amylase analysis should be conducted on the same day that the sample is received in the laboratory.

Key words

Amylase - biochemical analytes - serum - stability - temperature


Publication History

Article published online:
19 February 2020

© 2017.

Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Private Ltd.
A-12, Second Floor, Sector -2, NOIDA -201301, India

 

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