Evaluation of different centrifugation settings using BD Microtainer® tubes

• Main Author: Molin, Elin
• Format: Others
• Language: Swedish
• Published: Uppsala universitet, Institutionen för kvinnors och barns hälsa 2016
• Subjects: Preanalytic error; Lithium-heparin evaluation; PST; relative centrifugal force; clinical chemistry; Analytical interference; Clinical Medicine; Klinisk medicin
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-305970

In order to keep the turnaround time it is desirable to have few centrifugal programs and be able to centrifuge microtainer tubes together with vacutainer tubes. BD has launched a new type of microtainer tube that got a lower g-force than the older one on the same centrifugation program. The aims was to compare this program and three other, more powerful, programs and compare the impact on some common analytes and serum indices, especially on hemolysis. Three test parts was performed using venous samples taken from healthy individuals, 1) transfer of whole blood from serum tube to microtainer tubes, a clinical chemistry analysis; 2) whole blood from plasma tube to microtainer tubes, a clinical chemistry analysis and 3) whole blood from plasma tube to microtainer tubes for platelet count analysis. All tubes were examined for gel formation. The result showed a significant variance between some settings for some analytes but foremost at 899g and at 2000g, both in 10 min. The platelet count was below the threshold limit at 2000g. No tube had insufficient formation of the gel. The setting of 2000g was found suitable for microtainer tubes. These results correspond with the recommended settings from BD. Further studies are needed with more analytes and test subjects and a simulated transport time for plasma, because of the increased risk for hemolysis, to confirm if the same setting can be used for microtainer tubes (899g) as for the older microtainer tube and vacutainer tube (1300g).