Comparison of Barricor™ vs. lithium heparin tubes for selected routine biochemical analytes and evaluation of post centrifugation stability

Abstract

IntroductionObtaining suitable results unaffected by pre- or postanalytical phases is pivotal for clinical chemistry service. We aimed comparison and stability of nine biochemical analytes after centrifugation using Barricor™ plasma tubes with mechanical separator vs standard Vacutainer® lithium heparin tubes.Materials and methodsWe collected samples on six healthy volunteers and nine patients from intensive care units into 6 mL plastic Vacutainer® lithium heparin tubes and 5.5 mL plastic Barricor™ plasma tubes. All tubes were centrifuged within 30 minutes after venipuncture. First, we compared results of nine biochemical analytes from lithium heparin tubes with Barricor™ tubes for each analyte using Passing-Bablok and Bland-Altman analyses. Second, we calculated the difference of analyte concentrations between baseline and time intervals in tubes stored at + 4 °C. Based on the total change limit we calculated the maximum allowable concentrations percentage change from baseline.ResultsThe majority of correlation coefficients were close to 0.99 indicating good correlation in the working range. Bland-Altman analyses showed an acceptable concordance for all analytes. In consequence, the Barricor™ tube might be an alternative to regular lithium heparin tube. Stability with this new generation tube is improved for eight analytes (except for aspartate aminotransferase) in comparison with regular lithium heparin tubes.ConclusionsBy using Barricor™ tubes and prompt centrifugation, supplemental analysis or re-analysis for eight analytes including alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, C-reactive protein, high sensitivity troponin T, lactate dehydrogenase, NT-pro BNP, potassium and sodium could be performed within 72 h of specimen collection.

Improved quality of samples and laboratory turnaround time using 3.5 mL low vacuum BD Vacutainer® Barricor tubes in the emergency department

“…First, it has a mechanical separator instead of a gel barrier, allowing cells to pass across the separator while gels occlude this pathway. Concordant previous studies reported an acceptable correlation between Barricor™ tube results for many biochemical analytes with those of tubes used routinely such as regular lithium heparin [2], plasma separator tube (PST) or serum with (SST) or without gel barrier [1,15], although another study reported some bias when compared to tube without additive [16]. Second, the shortened centrifugation time with high speed as recommended by BD (4000xg for 3 min for Barricor™ tubes vs 2000xg for 10 min for lithium heparin tubes), does not seem to affect the results as shown by several studies [1,17].…”

“…Among process involved in lab TAT, the centrifugation is one of them that can be modulated. Indeed, new BD Barricor™ tubes (Becton Dickinson, NY, USA) allow a higher speed of centrifugation and therefore reduced the time of centrifugation without altering results [1,2]. So, it could be hypothesized that reduction of centrifugation time could reduce the lab TAT.…”

Test results comparison and sample stability study

“…Their data show that the acceptable glucose analysis postponement was to be between 9 and 15 hours, depending on the tube used. Dupuy et al investigated the stability of nine analytes in BD lithium heparin tubes and BD Barricor tubes and they observed an AST activity increase after a 24-hour storage period in both BD lithium heparin (4.4%) and BD Barricor (5.6%) tubes, which is consistent with our results ( 19 ).…”

Effects of different tube types on patient classification using current diabetes decision limits

“…2) [14]. A promising alternative to glycolysis inhibitors might be the use of mechanical barriers in lithium heparin tubes [15] as well as the use of gel barrier tubes containing lithium heparin [14], when rapid centrifugation in swing-out rotors at the site of blood drawing is feasible.…”