Instability of corticotropin during long-term storage - myth or reality?
Clin Chem Lab Med
; 60(1): 60-65, 2022 01 26.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34643074
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
Corticotropin is notorious for its instability. Whereas several studies have investigated its short-term stability in plasma following venous blood sampling, studies on long-term stability are lacking. Here we investigated the long-term storage stability of corticotropin in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid containing plasma.METHODS:
Specimens from healthy volunteers (neat, spiked) were stored in polypropylene microcentrifuge tubes with socket screw-caps at -20 °C and -70 °C for up to one and a half years. Corticotropin in plasma was measured using an Abbott research only immunoassay. Separately, specimens from patients were collected during diagnostic routine testing and stored in polystyrene tubes with push-caps at -20 °C for up to 6 years. In these samples corticotropin hormone was measured using the Diasorin corticotropin immunoassay.RESULTS:
Storage of specimens at -20 °C or -70 °C for up to one and a half years showed minimal changes (<11%) in corticotropin levels, while storage of patient samples at -20 °C for up to 6 years showed a significant (54%) reduction in corticotropin levels.CONCLUSIONS:
Corticotropin levels are stable in plasma when stored at -20 °C for one and a half years using the Abbott research only assay, but with longer storage time a significant reduction in corticotropin levels can be expected. Once specimens are stored for future corticotropin measurements, one should consider storage time, storage temperature and assay differences.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Manejo de Espécimes
/
Hormônio Adrenocorticotrópico
Limite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2022
Tipo de documento:
Article