Comparison of test results obtained from lithium heparin gel tubes and serum gel tubes

Abstract

AbstractObjectivesThere is currently trend that plasma might be alternative to serum due to some of its advantages. This study aimed to compare test results from heparinized plasma and serum.MethodsBlood samples from total of 40 participants (20 healthy, 20 hemodialysis patients) were drawn into serum gel tubes with clot activator and lithium heparin gel tubes. Twenty-eight clinical chemistry analytes were measured in serum and plasma samples. To determine whether difference between test results is clinically significant, total error (TE) was calculated and compared total allowable error (TEa) limits.ResultsTE of below 5% was calculated for amylase, AST, calcium, total cholesterol, chloride, CK, glucose, HDL-cholesterol, iron, LDH, LDL-cholesterol, magnesium, sodium, total bilirubin, uric acid and urea. Albumin, ALT, creatinine, CRP, lipase, phosphorus, potassium, total protein, and triglyceride had TE of 5–7%. TE of 7–10% were determined for ALP, direct bilirubin, and GGT. TE values were within TEa limits for all analytes.ConclusionsIt was concluded that results of 28 analytes measured in lithium heparin gel tubes are comparable to those of serum gel tubes. It is thought that several advantages including reduced turnaround time might be provided by using plasma instead of serum for these tests.