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Effect of delayed serum separation and storage temperature on serum glucose concentration in horse, dog, alpaca, and sturgeon
Author(s) -
Collicutt Nancy B.,
Garner Bridget,
Berghaus Roy D.,
Camus Melinda S.,
Hart Kelsey
Publication year - 2015
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/vcp.12217
Subject(s) - sturgeon , horse , zoology , biology , chemistry , endocrinology , andrology , medicine , fishery , fish <actinopterygii> , paleontology
Background Although delays between blood sample collection and analysis are common in veterinary medicine, the effect of prolonged serum‐clot contact time on serum glucose concentration is not well established and species differences have not been elucidated. Objectives The objective was to investigate the effect of storage time and temperature on serum glucose concentration in stored whole blood samples from horse, dog, alpaca, and sturgeon. Methods Whole blood specimens were divided into 7 no‐additive tubes and serum was separated from one sample within one hour, serving as the reference sample. The remaining samples were stored at 4°C and 25°C, then centrifuged and serum glucose measured by automated analysis at 2, 4, and 8 hours postcollection. Glucose concentrations were compared using linear mixed models. Results The decline in serum glucose concentration for all samples stored at 4°C was not statistically significant, except for the 8‐hour samples from sturgeon and dog. At 25°C, serum glucose concentration was comparable to reference values at 2 hours in sturgeon and alpaca, but significantly lower at 4 and 8 hours in those species, and at all time points in equine and canine specimens, being most prominent after 8 hours of storage in canine specimens. Conclusions Storage at 4°C limits serum glucose decline for at least 4 hours in all species tested and up to 8 hours in specimens of horse and alpaca. At 25°C, serum‐clot contact time should not exceed 1 hour in equine and canine samples, and 2 hours in specimens from alpaca and sturgeon.