Effect of Storage Time and Temperature on Serum Analytes

Information on the measured concentration of serum analytes during storage of serum samples is often incomplete and sometimes contradictory. The 10 analytes have not studied in this area in healthy subjects. The aim of present study was designed to determine the effect of storage time and temperature on the laboratory results of 10 analytes in sera from apparently healthy adult males in city of Gorgan.We studied the effect of storage temperature and time on the measured concentration of 10 serum analytes (2006). Serum was separated from the clot within 20 min of the collection. The sera were stored at 4±1°C and 23±1°C for 0,1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 24, 48 and 72 h, then assayed. Glucose, Phosphorus and creatinine were the least stable and the serum should be determined within 48 h at 4±1°C and 24 h at 23±1°C for these analytes. The other analytes were stable for 72 h. Proper storage temperatures and times must be considered for these analytes (glucose, phosphorus and Creatinine) if measurement is not to take place immediately after specimen collection. Beyond this, it is even very useful to check the reliability of technical and instrumental resources that the laboratory will use during the study because molecular alterations of the analytes due to variable storage conditions can cause misleading results.