Serum bicarbonate stability study at room temperature - influence of time to centrifugation and air exposure on bicarbonate measurement reported according to the CRESS checklist

The aim was to evaluate the stability of serum bicarbonate at room temperature, depending on time to centrifugation and air exposure. Stability study was conducted in the laboratory of Clinical Hospital Centre Rijeka, Croatia in January-February 2022. Nine samples from 10 volunteers were collected i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine Vol. 61; no. 6; p. 1046
Main Authors:	Šupak-Smolčić, Vesna, Franin, Lucija, Horvat, Mihovil, Šonjić, Pavica, Svatić, Rebeka, Antončić, Dragana, Aralica, Merica, Metzner, Dara, Šimac, Maja, Bilić-Zulle, Lidija
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Germany 25-05-2023
Subjects:	Bicarbonates Blood Specimen Collection Brassicaceae Centrifugation Checklist Humans Temperature checklist bicarbonates preanalytical phase stability
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Summary:	The aim was to evaluate the stability of serum bicarbonate at room temperature, depending on time to centrifugation and air exposure. Stability study was conducted in the laboratory of Clinical Hospital Centre Rijeka, Croatia in January-February 2022. Nine samples from 10 volunteers were collected in clot activator gel tubes (Greiner Bio-One). Bicarbonate was measured on Beckman Coulter AU480 (Beckman Coulter, Brea, USA). Three tubes were left at room temperature for 30 min, three tubes for 2 h, three tubes for 4 h until centrifugation. First tube from first group (baseline) was measured immediately after centrifugation. Other measurements were expressed as percentage deviation (PD%) from baseline. First tube was remeasured after 1 and 2 h (OT_0h_1h; OT_0h_2h). Second and third tubes were opened 1 and 2 h after centrifugation (C_0h_1h; C_0h_2h). Second group of tubes was processed the same way with 2-hour centrifugation delay (WB_2h; OT_2h_1h; OT_2h_2h; C_2h_1h; C_2h_2h), and third group with 4-hour delay (WB_4h; OT_4h_1h; OT_4h_2h; C_4h_1h; C_4h_2h). PD% was compared to Maximum Permissible Difference (MPD=5.69%). MedCalc statistical software was used (MedCalc, Ostend, Belgium). Bicarbonate baseline mean value (range) was 27.3 (23.4-29.6) mmol/L. Obtained PD% (95%CI) were: C_0h_1h 0.46 (-1.21, 2.12); C_0h_2h 0.18 (-2.22, 2.57); OT_0h_1h -6.46 (-7.57, -5.36); OT_0h_2h -10.67 (-12.13, -9.21); WB_2h -0.15 (-2.04, 1.74); C_2h_1h 0.01 (-1.52, 1.54); C_2h_2h -0.40 (-2.65, 1.85); OT_2h_1h -5.43 (-7.30, -3.55); OT_2h_2h -11.32 (-13.57, -9.07); WB_4h -0.85 (-3.28, 1.58); C_4h_1h -2.52 (-4.93, 0.11); C_4h_2h -3.02 (-5.62, 0.43); OT_4h_1h -7.34 (-9.64, -5.05); OT_4h_2h -11.85 (-14.38, -9.33). Serum bicarbonate is stable for 4 h in closed uncentrifuged tubes, another 2 h in closed tubes after centrifugation, and is unstable within 1 h in opened tube.
ISSN:	1437-4331
DOI:	10.1515/cclm-2022-1182