Gentle blood aspiration and tube cushioning reduce pneumatic tube system interference in lactate dehydrogenase assays. (March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Strubi-Vuillaume, Isabelle; Carlier, Valentine; Obeuf, Catherine; Vasseur, Francis; Maury, J-Claude; Maboudou, Patrice; Mangalaboyi, Jacques; Durocher, Alain; Launay, David; Noel, Christian; Brousseau, Thierry
• Is Part Of: Annals of clinical biochemistry. Volume 53:Number 2(2016:Mar.)
• Page Start: 295
• Page End: 297
• Publication Date: 2016-03
• Subjects: Enzymes -- analytes -- interference -- pneumatic tube system -- lactate dehydrogenase; Clinical chemistry -- Periodicals; Clinical biochemistry -- Periodicals; 616.075
• DOI: 10.1177/0004563215586600
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0004-5632

Abstract

Background: Use of a hospital pneumatic tube system may be associated with measurement errors. Methods: A venous blood sample was collected from 79 patients into a pair of lithium heparin tubes; one tube was sent to the laboratory by porter and the other was sent via the pneumatic tube system. Plasma lactate dehydrogenase concentrations were then assayed. Results: Lactate dehydrogenase concentrations were overestimated (median bias: 18.8%) when evacuated vacuum lithium heparin tubes were sent by pneumatic tube system. This bias was reduced by bubble-wrapping the standard lithium heparin tube or using Monovette lithium heparin tubes in aspiration mode (median bias: +8.7% and −0.3%, respectively). Conclusions: Cushioning and aspiration-mode sampling may limit pneumatic tube system-associated overestimation of lactate dehydrogenase concentrations.