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Effects of Storage on Serum Ionized Calcium and pH From Horses With Normal and Abnormal Ionized Calcium Concentrations
Author(s) -
Schenck Patricia A.,
Chew Dennis J.,
Brooks Charles L.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
veterinary clinical pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.537
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1939-165X
pISSN - 0275-6382
DOI - 10.1111/j.1939-165x.1996.tb00979.x
Subject(s) - calcium , chemistry , calcium metabolism , zoology , cold storage , horse , biology , organic chemistry , horticulture , paleontology
It has been previously shown that Ca 1 concentration is stable in serum collected from healthy horses for 10 days if stored at 4°C. This may not be true for horses with abnormal Ca 1 concentrations. Thus the stability of ionized calcium (Ca 1 ) concentration and pH measurement in serum from horses with both normal and abnormal Ca 1 concentrations stored for various times at 4°C and ‐10°C was evaluated. Our results indicated that serum Ca 1 concentration was stable throughout 7 days of cold or frozen storage, after being received by the Clinical Chemistry Laboratory. Serum Ca 1 concentration showed a significant decrease by 14 days of frozen storage (‐10°C). Serum pH showed a statistically significant increase by 7 days of cold storage, and within 3 days of frozen storage. If equine serum is collected, handled and stored anaerobically, and kept cold or frozen, Ca 1 concentration can be accurately measured for approximately 7 days after collection, regardless of the health status of the animal. An accurate measurement of pH may be made within 3 days of cold or 1 day of frozen storage.