TY - JOUR

T1 - Preanalytical study of fetuin-A

T2 - effect of sample type, processing speed and freeze-thaw cycles

AU - McArthur, L

AU - Johnston, L

AU - Sattar, N

AU - Logue, J

AU - Welsh, P

PY - 2015/12/2

Y1 - 2015/12/2

N2 - Background It has been suggested that fetuin-A may be a potential biomarker of cardiometabolic disease. However, few studies have investigated preanalytical factors that might impact the measurement of fetuin-A in the circulation. This pilot study aimed to investigate the preanalytical variables of sample type, timing of sample centrifugation and the impact of freeze–thaw cycles on the concentration of fetuin-A in serum or EDTA-plasma. Methods Blood samples were taken from 19 male or female healthy volunteers, aged 18–70 years, and left at ambient room temperature for 2 h or 48 h. The tubes were then centrifuged, serum and EDTA-plasma separated, and fetuin-A concentrations measured using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results There was no significant difference between the concentrations of fetuin-A in EDTA-plasma and serum following separation from whole blood at 2 h postcollection (P = 0.78). The median (interquartile range) concentrations of fetuin-A in EDTA-plasma separated at 2 h and 48 h postcollection were 589 µg/mL (484–703 µg/mL) and 767 µg/mL (687–942 µg/mL), respectively (P < 0.0005). For serum, equivalent concentrations were 606 µg/mL (501–669 µg/mL) at 2 h and 607 µg/mL (564–757 µg/mL) at 48 h postcollection (P = 0.06). Fetuin-A concentrations measured in EDTA-plasma and serum showed no significant change following three freeze–thaw cycles in samples separated at 2 h postcollection (EDTA-plasma P = 0.16; serum P = 0.89). Conclusion This small pilot study has shown that serum is preferable to EDTA-plasma for the measurement of fetuin-A. It has also shown that fetuin-A appears to be as stable after three freeze–thaw cycles as it is after one.

AB - Background It has been suggested that fetuin-A may be a potential biomarker of cardiometabolic disease. However, few studies have investigated preanalytical factors that might impact the measurement of fetuin-A in the circulation. This pilot study aimed to investigate the preanalytical variables of sample type, timing of sample centrifugation and the impact of freeze–thaw cycles on the concentration of fetuin-A in serum or EDTA-plasma. Methods Blood samples were taken from 19 male or female healthy volunteers, aged 18–70 years, and left at ambient room temperature for 2 h or 48 h. The tubes were then centrifuged, serum and EDTA-plasma separated, and fetuin-A concentrations measured using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results There was no significant difference between the concentrations of fetuin-A in EDTA-plasma and serum following separation from whole blood at 2 h postcollection (P = 0.78). The median (interquartile range) concentrations of fetuin-A in EDTA-plasma separated at 2 h and 48 h postcollection were 589 µg/mL (484–703 µg/mL) and 767 µg/mL (687–942 µg/mL), respectively (P < 0.0005). For serum, equivalent concentrations were 606 µg/mL (501–669 µg/mL) at 2 h and 607 µg/mL (564–757 µg/mL) at 48 h postcollection (P = 0.06). Fetuin-A concentrations measured in EDTA-plasma and serum showed no significant change following three freeze–thaw cycles in samples separated at 2 h postcollection (EDTA-plasma P = 0.16; serum P = 0.89). Conclusion This small pilot study has shown that serum is preferable to EDTA-plasma for the measurement of fetuin-A. It has also shown that fetuin-A appears to be as stable after three freeze–thaw cycles as it is after one.

UR - http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/24696154

U2 - 10.1177/0004563214529550

DO - 10.1177/0004563214529550

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 24696154

VL - 52

SP - 165

EP - 168

JO - Annals of Clinical Biochemistry

JF - Annals of Clinical Biochemistry

SN - 0004-5632

IS - 1

ER -