The influence of various sample storage conditions and sample bacterial contamination on concentrations of routine biochemical parameters

Abstract

Background: The pre-analytical (PA) phase is the most vulnerable phase of the laboratory testing procedure, with critical procedures-collection, handling, sample transport, and time and temperature of sample storage. This study aimed to examine the stability of basic biochemical parameters depending on the samples' storage conditions and the number of freeze-thaw cycles (FTCs). In parallel, the presence of sample bacterial contamination during routine laboratory work was examined. Methods: Two plasma pools (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and sodium-fluoride/potassium oxalate plasma (NaF)) were stored at +4 ˚C/-20 ˚C. Total chole - sterol (TC), glucose, triglycerides (TG), urea, and albumin concentrations were measured using BioSystems reagents (cholesterol oxidase/peroxidase, glucose oxidase/per - oxidase, glycerol phosphate oxidase/peroxidase, urease/ salicylate, and bromcresol green method, respectively) on Ilab 300+. Sample bacterial contamination was determined by 16S rRNA sequence analysis. The expe - riment encompassed a 5 day-period: Day 1-fresh sample, Day 2-1st FTC, Day 3-2nd FTC, Day 4-3rd FTC, Day 5-4th FTC. The appearance of bacteria in two consecutive samples was the experiment's endpoint. Results: During 4 FTCs, there were no changes in plasma urea concentrations. Glucose was stable in EDTA +4 ˚C and NaF -20 ˚C until the 3rd FTC (P=0.008, P=0.042, respectively). TG concentrations changed significantly in the EDTA -20 ˚C sample after 1st and 4th FTCs (P=0.022, P=0.010, respectively). In NaF samples, no bacterial contamination was observed during 4 FTCs. Conclusion: Urea and glucose concentrations were robust. Changes in lipid concentrations after FTCs follow complex patterns. Bacterial growth was not observed in NaF plasma samples. This can promote NaF use in analytical procedures in which bacterial contamination affects the quality of analysis.

Keywords

• freeze-thaw cycles
• bacterial cross-contamination
• preservative potassium-fluoride
• pre-analytical phase