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To the Editor—We read with interest the article by Chong et al1 on the effects of plasma heating procedures on common biochemical tests. Heat treatment at 60°C for 60 minutes has also been suggested by our Australian guidelines as a means to inactivate Ebola virus prior to routine laboratory processing.2 We recently performed a similar study to Chong et al1 in our laboratory at the Royal Melbourne Hospital (Parkville, Australia). De-identified plasma (n=29) and serum (n=38) venous samples were collected in plastic BD vacutainer tubes (Becton, Dickinson and Company, Franklin Lakes [NJ], US) for electrolyte, liver function, and troponin testing on the Architect c16000 analyser (Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago [IL], US). After centrifugation, two 0.5-mL aliquots were obtained, one placed in a heat block at 60°C for 60 minutes, and the other paired sample left at room temperature. After heat inactivation, 24/27 (89%) plasma samples and 25/36 (69%) serum samples changed to a viscous jelly-like substance (Fig) and caused aspiration error on the Architect analyser. Centrifugation, manual stirring, and vortexing did not resolve the problem. In serum samples that were not denatured by heating, electrolyte measurements had a strong Hong Kong Med J 2015;21:378–9 DOI: 10.12809/hkmj154629

Heat treatment of biochemical samples to inactivate Ebola virus: does it work in practice?