EFFECT OF BLOOD SAMPLE STORAGE ON TOTAL CHOLESTEROL ASSAY

Information on the measured concentration of serum analytes during storage of serum samples is often incomplete and sometimes contradictory. The aim of this study is designed to determine the effect of sample storage on total cholesterol (TC) assay of 3 analytes in sera from apparently healthy individuals (male and female) in the city of Aba using two different temperatures; room temperature (20-25°C) and Refrigeration temperature (4°C). The effect of sample storage on total cholesterol Assay was studied using 3 serum analytes which were subdivided to get a total number of 6 sera. Serum were separated from the clotted samples within 20 minutes of the collection. The sera were stored under 2 different temperature, 3 at room temperature (20-25°C) while the remaining 3 at refrigeration temperature (4°C) for day 1,2,3, and 4 then assayed. The observation from the result obtained showed that the TC concentration in the samples stored at room temperature increased on the second day and decreased from day 3 and day 4 while the samples stored in refrigeration temperature increased on the second day (which is higher than room temperature) and decreased drastically on day 3 and day 4 of storage, this is due to bacterial contamination (in room temperature) and prolong power failure (in refrigeration temperature). I recommend that samples should be analyze in the laboratory within preferably 24hours of collection to ensure valid results.