The changes in the levels of biological substances for liver function tests & lipid profiles in the centrifuged blood in 72 hours

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine changes in levels of biological substances such as direct bilirubin, total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total protein, albumin, cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c). This comparative experimental study involved 110 samples collected from patients for examination in the Clinical Chemistry Unit, Department of Pathology, SongklanagarindHospital, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University. The blood samples were centrifuged and analyzed within 30 minutes of the collection then left standing for 7 hours at room temperature and later stored at 4 ° C. After 24, 48 and 72 hours, the samples were re-analyzed. The results showed that when compared to the immediately measured samples no significant difference was seen in the mean levels of serum direct bilirubin, total protein and cholesterol up to 24 hours. The mean levels of serum total bilirubin, AST, ALT, ALP, albumin, triglyceride, HDL-c and LDL-c were significantly different from the immediately measured blood samples from 24 hours (P < 0.05). However , after centrifugation and standing at 4 ° C, mean levels changes of ALP, total protein, albumin, cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-c and LDL-c did not  exceed the clinical acceptance limit and the allowable error limit of these tests for up to 72 hours and AST for up to 48 hours and direct bilirubin ,total bilirubin and ALT  for up to 24 hours

Keywords:   Blood chemical levels, Serum, Stability, Temperature