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. 2021 Sep 3;40(4):358-366.
doi: 10.5937/jomb0-27216.

Comparative study of chemical pathology sample collection tubes at the largest hospital in South Africa

Siyabonga P Khoza  1 , Sarah Ford  2 , Ernest P Buthelezi  3 , Donald M Tanyanyiwa  4   2
Affiliations

Comparative study of chemical pathology sample collection tubes at the largest hospital in South Africa

Siyabonga P Khoza et al. J Med Biochem. .

Abstract
in English, Serbian

Background: BarricorTM Lithium heparin plasma tubes are new blood tubes that have been introduced to overcome the effects of gel in serum separator tubes (SST) and the shortcomings of standard Lithium heparin plasma. We aimed to evaluate BarricorTM tubes as an alternative to serum separator tubes and compare the stability between the tubes.

Methods: Forty-four paired samples were collected using both BarricorTM and SST. We compared five analytes at baseline (<6 h) and after every 24 h using the PassingBablok and Bland-Altman plots. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), potassium (K), phosphate (PO4) , lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and creatinine were analysed in both tubes. We calculated the percentage difference for each analyte between the baseline and time intervals to assess analyte stability. The percentage difference was compared to the desirable specification for bias and reference change value (RCV).

Results: All analytes were comparable at baseline. Statistical differences (p<0.001) became evident after 24 h. PO4, K, and creatinine had a mean difference that exceeded the desirable specification for bias (-9.59%, - 9.35%, and -4.59%, respectively). Potassium was stable up to 24 h in both tubes. LDH showed better stability in SST (144 h vs 96 h). PO4 concentrations were more stable in both tubes with the SST (96 h vs 72 h). Creatinine and AST had the longest stability in both tubes compared to other analytes (144 h).

Conclusions: Data demonstrated variability and similarities in analyte concentrations and stability, respectively, in both tubes.

Uvod: BarricorTM litijumske heparinske epruvete za prikupljanje plazme su nove epruvete za krv koje su uvedene kako bi se prevazišli problemi uticaja gela u epruvetama za odvajanje seruma (SST) i nedostaci standardne litijumheparinske epruvete. Cilj NAM je bio da ocenimo BarricorTM epruvete kao alternativu serumskim separatorima i uporedimo stabilnost između epruveta.

Metode: Prikupljena su četrdeset i četiri uparena uzorka pomoću epruveta BarricorTM i SST. Upoređivali smo pet analita na početku (<6 h) i nakon svaka 24 sata, koristeći Passing-Bablok i Bland-Altman metode. U obe epruvete su analizirani aspartat aminotransferaza (AST), kalijum (K), fosfat (PO4), laktat dehidrogenaza (LDH) i kreatinin. Izračunali smo procentualnu razliku za svaki analit između početnog vremena i vremenskih intervala da bismo procenili stabilnost analita. Procentualna razlika je upoređena sa poželjnom specifikacijom sklonosti i referentnih vrednosti (RCV).

Rezultati: Svi analiti su u početku bili uporedivi. Statističke razlike (p<0,001) su postale očigledne nakon 24 sata. PO4, K i kreatinin su imali srednju razliku koja je premašila poželjnu specifikaciju sklonosti (-9,59%, -9,35% i -4,59%, redom). Kalijum je bio stabilan do 24 sata u obe epruvete. LDH je pokazao bolju stabilnost u epruveti SST (144 h prema 96 h). Koncentracije PO4 su bile stabilnije u obe epruvete sa SST (96 h prema 72 h). Kreatinin i AST su imali najdužu stabilnost u obe epruvete u poređenju sa drugim analitima (144 h).

Zaključak: Podaci su pokazali promenljivost i sličnost u koncentraciji i stabilnosti analita, redom, u obe epruvete.

Keywords: BarricorTM; blood collection devices; serum separator tubes.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: The authors stated that they have no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Differences between BarricorTM and Serum separator tube for aspartate aminotransferase values by Bland-Altman analysis (bias% 1.7%). The dashed lines are the limit of agreements (LOA), which correspond to the mean ± 1.96 SD of the difference between the tubes.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Differences between BarricorTM and Serum separator tube for potassium values by Bland-Altman analysis (bias%=-9.35%). The dashed lines are the limit of agreements (LOA), which correspond to the mean ± 1.96 SD of the difference between the tubes.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Differences between BarricorTM and Serum separator tube for lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) values by Bland-Altman analysis (bias%=-0.46%). The dashed lines are the limit of agreements (LOA), which correspond to the mean ± 1.96 SD of the difference between the tubes.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Differences between BarricorTM and Serum separator tube for phosphate values by Bland-Altman analysis (bias%=- 9.59 %). The dashed lines are the limit of agreements (LOA), which correspond to the mean ± 1.96 SD of the difference between the tubes.
Figure 5
Figure 5. Differences between BarricorTM and Serum separator tube for creatinine values by Bland-Altman analysis (bias%=-4.56 %). The dashed lines are the limit of agreements (LOA), which correspond to the mean ± 1.96 SD of the difference between the tubes.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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