Effect of Blood Collection Tubes on Total Triiodothyronine and Other Laboratory Assays

Abstract

Background: Increased total triiodothyronine (TT 3 ) assay results in apparently euthyroid patients triggered an investigation of the effect of blood collection tubes on serum TT 3 and other laboratory assays. Methods: We examined potential assay interference for three types of tubes: plastic Greiner Bio-One

Preanalytical Influences on DPC IMMULITE 2000 Intact PTH Assays of Plasma and Serum from Dialysis Patients

“…We have seen similar differences with lots 114 and 115 (data not shown), as have others with lots 109 and 112 (12 ). In addition, the negative difference for SST serum compared with EDTA plasma was not a matrix effect attributable to the SST tube, as reported for other analytes on the Immulite 2000 (16 ). We have seen similar results in sera from plain tubes (data not shown).…”

Comparison of Bayer Advia Centaur® immunoassay results obtained on samples collected in four different Becton Dickinson Vacutainer® tubes

“…In their studies, Bowen et al 18 showed that the interference from discontinued SST tubes with the DPC IMMULITEt 2000 triiodothyronine (TT 3 ) assay was independent of the separator gel and due to the e¡ects of tube additives and the lubricant used on tube stoppers. 18 More recently, the same investigators identi¢ed the source of the interference with the IMMULITEt 2500 TT 3 assay to be the high concentration of surfactant coated on the inner surface of the tubes, and suggested desorption of solid phase antibodies employed in the assays as the interfering mechanism.…”

Preanalytical quality improvement: in quality we trust

“…In a previous study that has been performed on the Diagnostic Products Corporation Immulite 2000/2500 analyzer by plastic Becton-Dickinson (BD) blood collection tubes [30] , an interference likely attributable to a tube additive, Silwet L-720 (also shared by other plastic BD tubes) was observed. In response to the immunoassay interference, the manufacturer has reformulated the blood collection tubes to reduce the amount of tube additives [31] .…”