The Effects of Sampling Procedures and Storage Conditions on Short-term Stability of Blood-Based Biochemical Markers of Bone Metabolism

[摘要] To the Editor:The prevalence and incidence of metabolic bone disease are rising as the population ages (1). In conjunction with imaging and clinical history, biochemical bone markers have become increasingly important in diagnosis and for monitoring bone disease (2, 3).Little evidence is available regarding preanalytical influences on short-term stability of bone markers. We have evaluated the effects of sample type, processing, and storage procedures on the stability of biochemical markers of bone turnover [C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen (β-CTX), N-terminal propeptide of procollagen type 1 (P1NP), osteocalcin (OC), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (bone ALP), and parathyroid hormone (PTH)].After obtaining informed consent, we collected venous blood samples from 18 patients with metabolic bone disease into lithium heparin–containing, EDTA-containing, and serum Sarstedt blood-collection systems.We investigated the use of 3 sample-processing protocols (6 patients each): ( a ) delayed separation from cells (samples stored at room temperature for 1, 2, 4, 8, 24, or 48 h after venesection before separation); ( b ) immediate separation and storage at room temperature (plasma and serum aliquots left at room temperature for 2 h, 4 h, 8 h, 24 h, 48 h, or 7 days); and ( c ) immediate separation and storage at 2 °C–8 °C (plasma and serum aliquots stored at 2 °C–8 °C for 24 h, …

[学科分类] 过敏症与临床免疫学