Effect of Anticoagulants and Pre-analytical Time on Serum and Plasma Growth Factor Analysis

Abstract

Growth  factors in blood are important for wound healing and contributed mainly from

platelets. Currently, there is no consensus about measurement method and suitable anticoagulant

for growth factor analysis. One hundred blood samples (ten collections) were drawn into various

blood collecting tubes including clot activator, plain, citrate, heparin, and ethylenediaminetet-

raacetic acid (EDTA). Serum or plasma obtained at 15 minutes, 4, 8 and 24 hours were analyzed

for the presence of growth factors. Three platelet growth factors, [platelet-derived growth factor

(PDGF)-AA, PDGF-BB and epidermal growth factor (EGF)], and erythropoietin were increased

in the concentration  with time in serum but unchanged in plasma. Other growth factors showed

no difference between serum and plasma. Furthermore,  serum PDGF-AA, PDGF-BB, and EGF

showed moderate correlation  with  platelet count. In  conclusion,  types of anticoagulant,  time

before analysis and platelet count affected the concentration of some growth factors in blood.