EDTA improves stability of whole blood C-peptide and insulin to over 24 hours at room temperature.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

C-peptide and insulin measurements in blood provide useful information regarding endogenous insulin secretion. Conflicting evidence on sample stability and handling procedures continue to limit the widespread clinical use of these tests. We assessed the factors that altered the stability of insulin and C-peptide in blood.

Methods

We investigated the impact of preservative type, time to centrifugation, storage conditions and duration of storage on the stability of C-peptide and insulin on three different analytical platforms.

Results

C-peptide was stable for at least 24 hours at room temperature in both centrifuged and whole blood collected in K(+)-EDTA and serum gel tubes, with the exception of whole blood serum gel, which decreased to 78% of baseline at

SUBMITTER: McDonald TJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3408407 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature