Stability of HE4 and CA125 in blood samples from patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer. (September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sandhu, Noreen; Karlsen, Mona A.; Høgdall, Claus; Laursen, Inga A.; Christensen, Ib J.; Høgdall, Estrid V. S.
• Is Part Of: Scandinavian journal of clinical & laboratory investigation. Volume 74:Number 6(2014)
• Page Start: 477
• Page End: 484
• Publication Date: 2014-09
• Subjects: Clinical biochemistry -- Periodicals; Physiology, Pathological -- Periodicals; Physiology, Experimental -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Research -- Periodicals; Clinical medicine -- Periodicals; 616.0072
• DOI: 10.3109/00365513.2014.903430
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0036-5513

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <bold> <italic>Objective.</italic> </bold> To investigate the influence of handling and storage on HE4 and CA125 serum and EDTA plasma levels to clarify any important consequences for a clinical setting. <bold><italic>Methods.</italic></bold> Blood sample<bold>s</bold> from 13 ovarian cancer (OC) patients were collected and allowed to clot or sediment for up to 72 hours at 4°C or 20°C, then processed into serum and EDTA plasma. Furthermore, the effects of up to eight repetitive cycles of freeze/thaw were investigated. HE4 and CA125 were analyzed using a Chemiluminescent Microparticle Immunoassay on the Architect i2000sr System. <bold><italic>Results.</italic></bold> No significant effect of processing time for HE4 could be shown. HE4 EDTA plasma levels were insignificantly lower (3%) than serum levels (<italic>p</italic> = 0.41). Similarly, no significant effect of processing time for CA125 could be demonstrated. CA125 levels at 4°C were significantly reduced compared to levels at 20°C (<italic>p</italic> = 0.024). No significant difference between CA125 serum and plasma levels were found (<italic>p</italic> = 0.46). Serum and EDTA plasma samples were stable during the eight cycles of freezing and thawing (CA125: all <italic>p</italic> > 0.2; HE4: all <italic>p</italic> > 0.5). <bold><italic>Conclusion.</italic></bold> No systematic difference could be demonstrated for HE4. CA125 is not dependent on processing time, EDTA plasma or serum. Levels of CA125 are significantly reduced at 4°C compared to levels at 20°C, but this difference was less than 6% and is not considered clinically relevant.</p> </abstract>