Publication
Title
Influence of separator gel in Sarstedt S-Monovette® serum tubes on various therapeutic drugs, hormones, and proteins
Author
Abstract
Background A separator or barrier gel is a common component of serum and plasma collection tubes. Despite their advantages, the use of these tubes is not universally accepted, especially for therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the polyacrylester separator gel in Sarstedt S-Monovette\® tubes influences the concentration of 10 selected parameters (amikacin, vancomycin, valproic acid, acetaminophen, cortisol, free thyroxine, thyroid-stimulating hormone, transferrin, prealbumin and carcinoembryonic antigen) in a clinically significant way. Methods Results from patient samples collected in plastic Sarstedt S-Monovette® tubes with separator gel were compared with those from plain serum sample tubes. Analytes were measured in both tubes on 4 consecutive days to study the influence of prolonged contact with the separator gel. Between analyses tubes were stored at 4 °C. Stability was also evaluated over 72 h for each collection tube. When statistical differences were detected, the clinical significance was evaluated based on the total allowable error (TEa). Results On day 1 no statistically significant differences were observed between samples collected in Sarstedt S-Monovette® tubes with and without separator gel. Statistical differences were present from day 2 on, but were not clinically significant. All evaluated parameters were clinically stable over 72 h at 4 °C based on TEa, except for transferrin en fT4. Conclusion The separator gel in Sarstedt S-Monovette® tubes did not show statistically significant differences on the day of phlebotomy. Later on statistically significant differences appeared but except for the stability of fT4 and transferrin they all remained clinically insignificant.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Clinica chimica acta. - Amsterdam, 1956, currens
Publication
Amsterdam : 2012
ISSN
0009-8981 [print]
1873-3492 [online]
DOI
10.1016/J.CCA.2011.08.037
Volume/pages
413 :1/2 (2012) , p. 100-104
ISI
000298462400014
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 08.02.2012
Last edited 04.03.2024
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