EFFECT OF DELAYED CENTRIFUGATION ON SERUM CHEMISTRY

Objective: To assess the effect of delayed centrifugation on integrity of serum chemistry. Study Design: Quasi experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, from Jul 2018 to Sep 2018. Patients and Methods: A sample of 20 ostensibly healthy adult subjects were recruited in the study. 16 cc of blood was drawn from each individual. It was distributed evenly (2 cc each) in plain tube. One tube was centrifuged immediately after clotting while remaining 7 at the time of expiry of delay period up to 12 hours. All the samples were stored at room temperature (25±1oC). Samples were analyzed for routine chemistry analytes. Data was analyzed by using SPSS 23. Repeated samples ANOVA and Paired t-test was used to access the variation in the levels of different analytes. Results: Urea and ALT levels showed significant variation over time. While other remained stable up to 12 hours. Urea showed significant change at test on 4th hours (p≤0.001). ALT remained stable up to 6 hours, 8th hour analysis showed significant variation (p=0.001) with sharp increase in the results of both urea and ALT. Conclusion: Variation in urea levels became significant at 4th hour while ALT, bilirubin and calcium levels were stable up to 6th hour. Cholesterol levels remained within non-significant variation till 8th hour while all other analytes showed stability up to 12 hours