Stability of direct renin concentration and plasma renin activity in EDTA whole blood and plasma at ambient and refrigerated temperatures from 0 to 72 hours.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the appropriate transport and storage conditions for blood taken for direct renin concentration and plasma renin activity measurement, and whether cryoactivation of prorenin is seen at time points relevant to clinical practice. METHODS: Blood was extracted from n=10 volunteers into K2-EDTA tubes. Stability of renin was assessed in whole blood stored at room temperature (15-25 °C) and in the refrigerator (2-8 °C) at 0 h, 8 h, and 24 h. The stability of renin in plasma was determined under the same conditions at 0 h, 24 h and 72 h. RESULTS: Stability of plasma renin activity and direct renin concentration in whole blood stored at room temperature was found to be acceptable for up to 24 h. At refrigerated temperature, whole blood stability was acceptable for measurement of direct renin concentration up to 8 h and plasma renin activity up to 24 h. In contrast, plasma renin activity was not stable in plasma stored at either room or refrigerated temperatures up to 24 h; however, direct renin concentration had acceptable stability in plasma stored at room temperature for up to 24 h, but stability was unacceptable at refrigerated temperatures. CONCLUSIONS: Samples collected for plasma renin activity and direct renin concentration should be transported as whole blood to optimise stability. After sample processing, plasma can be kept at room temperature for up to 24 h for direct renin concentration, however, for determination of plasma renin activity separated plasma should be analysed or frozen as soon as possible.

Feedback from the Science Café from the Sixth European Bioanalysis Forum Young Scientist Symposium.

The 6th Young Scientist Symposium, a meeting organized by young scientists for young scientists under the umbrella of the European Bioanalysis Forum vzw and in collaboration with the Universities of Bologna and Ghent, included a variety of interesting presentations on cutting edge bioanalytical science and processes. Integrated in the meeting, an interactive round table session, the Science Café, discussed the challenges related to sustainability for bioanalytical lab activities. This manuscript reflects conclusions from these discussions. They can provide our community a compass for future business practices to embrace more sustainable laboratory activities considerate of smarter use of a wide array of resources and laboratory tools, resulting in increased wellbeing for our next generations and our planet.

Feedback from the Science Café at the 7th European Bioanalysis Forum Young Scientist Symposium.

The 7th Young Scientist Symposium, a meeting again organized as a hybrid online event by young scientists for young scientists under the umbrella of the European Bioanalysis Forum and in collaboration with the Universities of Bologna and Ghent, included a variety of interesting presentations on cutting-edge bioanalytical science and processes. On the morning of day 2, the meeting hosted their traditional Science Café around the theme: 'How has COVID-19 changed our future?' in which the Young Scientist Symposium organizing committee engaged with the delegates on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the careers of young scientists working in a bioanalytical (industry or academic) laboratory, that is, things they lost, for good or for bad - things they gained, wanted or unwanted, things they learned about themselves and their industry. This manuscript provides feedback from those discussions.

Feedback from the Sixth European Bioanalysis Forum Young Scientist Symposium.

As part of the European Bioanalysis Forum mission to provide development opportunities for scientists, a Young Scientist Symposium has been organized every year since 2014. The meetings, organized by and for young scientists, aim at immersing talent from industry and academia in the scientific and process challenges important for their (future) professional environment. In an ideal world, the setting of an interactive symposium in stimulating auditorium sets the foundation for long lasting peer scientific relationship. This year, a pandemic has descended across all continents, changing the dynamics of the meeting. This manuscript summarizes the discussions at the Sixth EBF Young Scientist Symposium, originally planned as a face-to face event in March 2020 in Bologna, Italy but finally executed as a hybrid meeting in Cyberspace and on location in a few regions across Europe between 24-25 September 2020.

Sensitive and robust LC-MS/MS analysis of digoxin in human plasma through optimization of in-source adduct formation.

AIM: To develop and validate an LC-MS/MS assay for the quantification of digoxin in human plasma. An LLOQ of 10 pg/ml using a 100 µl sample was required to support drug-drug interactions studies. RESULTS: Digoxin formed multiple precursor ions in positive and negative ESI and methods based on several of these have been reported previously. After screening viable precursor ions, we found the ammonium adduct gave the best combination of sensitivity and selectivity on our LC-MS/MS platform. Samples were extracted using a simple liquid-liquid procedure. CONCLUSION: The assay was successfully validation to current EMA guidelines. To the best of our knowledge the developed assay is the most sensitive published to date.