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. 2012 Jun 15;22(2):202–214. doi: 10.11613/bm.2012.023

TABLE 3.

Comparison of tubes with gel and without gel for analytes at room temperature or 4 degrees centigrade according to time of analysis (hour, week).

Analyte Tube type Temp 0.5 h 6 h 12 h 18 h 24 h 30 h 36 h 48 h 72 h 1 w Desirable bias
Albumin (g/L) gel 24°C 44 45 44 44 44 43 44 44 44 44 1.3%
(2.3%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (−2.3%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%)
P=0.806 P=0.138 P=0.372 P=0.495 P=0.083 P=0.145 P=0.224 P=0.233 P=0.124
4°C 44 44 44 44 44 43 43 44 44 44
(0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (−2.3%) (−2.3%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%)
P=0.005 P=0.053 P=0.058 P=1.000 P=0.027 P=0.162 P=0.083 P=0.076 P=0.052
w/o gel* 24°C 44 43 45 44 44 45 44 44 44 44
(−2.3%) (2.3%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (2.3%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%)
P=0.593 P=0.249 P=0.279 P=0.589 P=0.100 P=0.598 P=0.519 P=0.219 P=0.250
4°C 44 44 45 44 45 44 44 44 44 45
(0.0%) (2.3%) (0.0%) (2.3%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (2.3%)
P=1.000 P=0.406 P=0.124 P=0.578 P=0.490 P=0.030 P=0.113 P=0.084 P=0.406
Alkaline phosphatase (U/L, 37° C) gel 24°C 68 67 69 70 67 68 69 65 65 65 6.4%
(−1.5%) (1.5%) (2.9%) (−1.5%) (0.0%) (1.5%) (−4.4%) (−4.4%) (−4.4%)
P=0.727 P=0.932 P=0.632 P=0.108 P=0.357 P=0.518 P=0.124 P=0.001 P=0.001
4°C 68 67 68 68 69 68 69 66 69 69
(−1.5%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (1.5%) (0.0%) (1.5%) (−2.9%) (1.5%) (1.5%)
P=0.483 P=0.555 P=0.861 P=0.206 P=0.513 P=0.746 P=0.191 P=0.055 P=0.055
w/o gel 24°C 69 68 68 67 68 69 70 67 66 66
(−1.5%) (−1.5%) (−2.9%) (−1.5%) (0.0%) (1.5%) (−2.9%) (−4.4%) (−4.4%)
P=0.977 P=0.437 P=0.238 P=0.113 P=0.135 P=0.864 P=0.153 P=0.001 P=0.001
4°C 69 66 68 67 67 68 70 67 67 67
(−4.4%) (−1.5%) (−2.9%) (−2.9%) (−1.5%) (1.5%) (−2.9%) (−2.9%) (−2.9%)
P=0.301 P=0.432 P=0.029 P=0.013 P=0.118 P=0.105 P=0.014 P=0.008 P=0.014
Alanine aminotransferase (U/L, 37° C) gel 24°C 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 14 12%
(0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (−6.7%)
P=0.782 P=0.380 P=0.564 P=0.675 P=0.327 P=0.351 P=0.380 P=0.763 P=0.002
4°C 15 15 15 15 14 15 15 15 16 15
(0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (−6.7%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (6.7%) (0.0%)
P=0.366 P=0.414 P=0.129 P=0.096 P=0.194 P=0.102 P=1.000 P=0.070 P=0.073
w/o gel 24°C 15 15 15 15 15 15 14 16 15 12
(0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (−6.7%) (6.7%) (0.0%) (−20%)
P=0.038 P=0.334 P=0.377 P=0.002 P=0.109 P=0.002 P=0.366 P=0.803 P=0.001
4°C 15 15 16 15 14 16 15 15 14 14
(0.0%) (6.7%) (0.0%) (−6.7%) (6.7%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (−6.7%) (−6.7%)
P=0.557 P=0.109 P=0.527 P=0.002 P=0.782 P=0.053 P=0.109 P=0.002 P=0.001
Aspartate aminotransferase (U/L, 37°C) gel 24°C 14 15 15 15 14 15 14 16 14 13 5.4 %
(7.1%) (7.1%) (7.1%) (0.0%) (7.1%) (0.0%) (14.3%) (0.0%) (−7.1%)
P=0.132 P=0.006 P=0.005 P=0.739 P=0.317 P= 0.218 P=0.030 P=0.080 P=0.034
4°C 14 15 14 15 16 15 15 15 17 15
(7.1%) (0.0%) (7.1%) (14.3%) (7.1%) (7.1%) (7.1%) (21.4%) (7.1%)
P=0.132 P=0.006 P=0.020 P=0.107 P=0.163 P=0.052 P=0.366 P=0.001 P= 0.001
w/o gel 24°C 15 15 16 15 15 15 16 15 15 16
(0.0%) (6.7%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (6.7%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (6.7%)
P=0.236 P=0.285 P=0.026 P=0.315 P=0.739 P=1.000 P= 0.038 P=0.005 P=0.404
4°C 15 15 16 15 16 16 17 16 20 16
(0.0%) (6.7%) (0.0%) (6.7%) (6.7%) (13.3%) (6.7%) (33.3%) (6.7%)
P=0.109 P=0.166 P=0.026 P=0.112 P=0.458 P=0.002 P=0.564 P=0.001 P=0.005
Bilirubin (total) (μmol/L) gel 24°C 10.9 10.8 10.8 9.9 10.6 10.3 10.6 10.9 11.1 11.6 11.4%
(−1.6%) (−1.6%) (−9.3%) (−3.1%) (−6.2%) (−3.1%) (0.0%) (1.7%) (6.3%)
P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.007 P=0.136 P=0.589
4°C 10.9 10.4 10.3 10.3 10.4 10.3 10.3 10.3 10.3 11.1
(−4.7%) (−6.2%) (−6.2%) (−4.7%) (−6.2%) (−6.2%) (−6.2%) (−6.2%) (1.7%)
P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.002 P=0.006
w/o gel 24°C 10.9 10.3 10.3 9.6 10.3 10.3 9.9 9.9 9.9 9.9
(−6.2%) (−6.2%) (−12.4%) (−6.2%) (−6.2%) (−9.3%) (−9.3%) (−9.3%) (−9.3%)
P=0.005 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.003 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.009 P=0.030 P=0.010
4°C 10.9 10.6 9.9 9.1 10.8 10.3 10.6 10.6 9.9 12.3
(−3.1%) (−9.3%) (−17.2%) (−1.6%) (−6.2%) (−3.1%) (−3.1%) (−9.3%) (12.5%)
P=0.007 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.200 P=0.001 P=0.972 P=0.141 P=0.019 P=0.001
Cholesterol (mmol/L) gel 24°C 4.43 4.46 4.43 4.48 4.58 4.56 4.46 4.53 4.48 4.58 4 %
(0.6%) (0.0%) (1.2%) (3.5%) (2.9%) (0.6%) (2.4%) (1.2%) (3.5%)
P=0.001 P=0.014 P=0.021 P=0.030 P=0.004 P=0.001 P=0.002 P=0.001 P=0.062
4°C 4.40 4.50 4.50 4.50 4.50 4.50 4.50 4.50 4.50 4.50
(1.8%) (1.8%) (0.7%) (1.8%) (2.3%) (2.3%) (1.1%) (1.8%) (1.8%)
P=0.016 P=0.011 P=0.001 P=0.002 P=0.068 P=0.068 P=0.047 P=0.001 P=0.019
w/o gel 24°C 4.46 4.43 4.48 4.58 4.58 4.46 4.51 4.53 4.56 4.61
(−0.7%) (0.5%) (2.7%) (2.7%) (0.0%) (1.1%) (1.6%) (2.2%) (3.4%)
P=0.771 P=0.012 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.002 P=0.005 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001
4°C 4.50 4.50 4.50 4.40 4.50 4.50 4.40 4.50 4.50 4.60
(1.6%) (1.1%) (−0.7%) (0.0%) (0.5%) (−0.7%) (1.1%) (0.0%) (2.7%)
P=1.000 P=0.111 P=0.406 P=0.580 P=0.020 P=0.032 P=0.002 P=0.001 P=0.001
Creatine kinase (U/L, 37° C) gel 24°C 83 83 84 83 83 83 82 82 92 97 11.5 %
(0.0%) (1.2%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (−1.2%) (−1.2%) (10.8%) (16.9%)
P=0.593 P=0.548 P=0.282 P=0.249 P=0.471 P=0.472 P=0.871 P=0.186 P=0.045
4°C 83 82 83 84 84 83 81 82 83 81
(−1.2%) (0.0%) (1.2%) (1.2%) (0.0%) (−2.4%) (−1.2%) (0.0%) (−2.4%)
P=0.346 P=0.544 P=0.318 P=0.110 P=0.840 P=0.747 P=0.609 P=0.142 P=0.401
w/o gel 24°C 84 83 85 86 85 84 86 85 86 105
(−1.2%) (1.2%) (2.4%) (1.2%) (0.0%) (2.4%) (1.2%) (2.4%) (25%)
P=0.008 P=0.714 P=0.716 P=0.078 P=0.593 P=0.297 P=0.593 P=0.233 P=0.001
4°C 83 82 83 84 84 83 81 82 83 81
(− 1.2%) (0.0%) (1.2%) (1.2%) (0.0%) (−2.4%) (−1.2%) (0.0%) (−2.4%)
P=0.175 P=0.816 P=0.399 P=0.336 P=1.000 P=0.305 P=0.088 P=0.006 P=0.003
Creatinine (μmol/L) gel 24°C 70.7 70.7 70.7 70.7 61.9 70.7 70.7 70.7 70.7 70.7 4.0 %
(0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (−12.5%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%)
P=0.317 P=0.705 P=0.102 P=0.705 P=0.655 P=0.655 P=1.000 P=0.655 P=0.102
4°C 70.7 70.7 70.7 70.7 70.7 70.7 70.7 70.7 70.7 70.7
(0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%)
P=1.000 P=0.705 P=1.000 P=0.655 P=0.705 P=0.180 P=1.000 P=1.000 P=0.655
w/o gel 24°C 70.7 70.7 70.7 70.7 70.7 70.7 70.7 70.7 70.7 70.7
(0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%)
P=0.317 P=0.157 P=0.020 P=0.059 P=0.096 P=0.180 P=0.005 P=1.000 P=0.180
4°C 70.7 70.7 70.7 70.7 70.7 70.7 70.7 70.7 61.9 70.7
(0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (−12.5%) (0.0%)
P=0.480 P=0.257 P=0.011 P=0.180 P=0.180 P=0.020 P=0.317 P=0.002 P=0.102
γ-Glutamyltransferase (U/L, 37°C) gel 24°C 20 19 20 19 20 20 19 19 19 21 10.8 %
(−5%) (0.0%) (−5%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (−5%) (−5%) (−5%) (5%)
P=0.206 P=0.206 P=0.058 P=0.627 P=0.190 P=0.903 P=0.386 P=0.429 P=0.206
4°C 20 19 18 19 19 20 19 20 18 18
(−5%) (−10%) (−5%) (−5%) (0.0%) (−5%) (0.0%) (−10%) (−10%)
P=0.130 P=0.013 P=0.366 P=0.739 P=0.206 P=0.791 P=0.564 P=0.021 P=0.290
w/o gel 24°C 19 20 20 19 19 19 20 19 20 21
(5.3%) (5.3%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (5.3%) (0.0%) (5.3%) (10.5%)
P=0.366 P=0.166 P=0.763 P=0.102 P=0.160 P=0.001 P=0.627 P=0.107 P=0.002
4°C 19 19 18 19 20 20 21 19 20 20
(0.0%) (−5.3%) (0.0%) (5.3%) (5.3%) (10.5%) (0.0%) (5.3%) (5.3%)
P= 0.782 P=0.730 P=0.414 P=0.159 P=0.773 P=0.002 P=0.271 P=0.272 P=0.002
Glucose, mmol/L gel 24°C 5.27 5.22 5.27 5.16 5.00 5.22 4.94 4.94 4.88 4.77 2.2 %
(−1.0%) (0.0%) (−2.1%) (−5.3%) (−1.0%) (−6.3%) (−6.3%) (−7.4%) (−9.5%)
P=0.026 P=0.334 P=0.400 P=0.003 P=0.003 P=0.003 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001
4°C 5.27 5.27 5.33 5.27 5.22 5.22 5.16 5.11 5.05 5.00
(0.0%) (1.1%) (0.0%) (−1.1%) (−1.1%) (−2.1%) (−3.0%) (−4.2%) (−5.1%)
P=0.313 P=0.108 P=0.352 P=0.028 P=0.020 P=0.009 P=0.002 P=0.001 P=0.001
w/o gel 24°C 5.22 4.83 5.05 4.77 4.27 4.22 4.05 3.77 3.33 1.0
(−7.5%) (−3.3%) (−8.6%) (−18.2%) (−19.2%) (−22.4%) (−27.8%) (−36.2%) (−80.8%)
P=0.001 P=0.002 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001
4°C 5.22 4.88 4.77 4.61 4.38 4.27 4.22 4.00 3.84 3.55
(−6.5%) (−8.6%) (−11.7%) (−16.1%) (−18.2%) (−19.2%) (−23.4%) (−26.4%) (−32%)
P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001
HDL-cholesterol (mmol/L) gel 24°C 1.48 1.45 1.42 1.48 1.42 1.48 1.45 1.32 1.40 1.48 5.2 %
(−2.0%) (−4.1%) (0.0%) (−4.1%) (0.0%) (−2.0%) (−10.8%) (−5.4%) (0.0%)
P=0.724 P=0.659 P=0.065 P=0.825 P=0.128 P=0.526 P=0.261 P= 0.003 P=0.975
4°C 1.48 1.45 1.45 1.48 1.45 1.37 1.50 1.40 1.40 1.42
(−2.0%) (−2.0%) (0.0%) (−2.0%) (−7.4%) (−1.4%) (−5.4%) (−5.4%) (−4.1%)
P=0.862 P=0.278 P=0.936 P=0.750 P=0.860 P=0.924 P=0.975 P=0.054 P=0.326
w/o gel 24°C 1.37 1.42 1.48 1.45 1.50 1.45 1.42 1.35 1.32 1.48
(3.7%) (8.0%) (5.8%) (9.5%) (5.8%) (3.7%) (−1.5%) (−3.7%) (8.0%)
P=0.437 P=0.012 P=0.004 P=0.011 P=0.142 P=0.972 P=0.505 P=0.119 P=0.027
4°C 1.37 1.42 1.32 1.37 1.32 1.35 1.40 1.48 1.24 1.45
(3.7%) (−3.7%) (0.0%) (−3.7%) (−1.5%) (2.2%) (8.0%) (−9.4%) (5.7%)
P=0.602 P=0.526 P=0.428 P=0.191 P=1.000 P=0.385 P=0.023 P=0.013 P=0.004
Lactate dehydrogenase (U/L, 37° C) gel 24°C 164 166 168 162 158 165 166 165 161 169 4.3 %
(1.2%) (2.4%) (−1.2%) (−3.7%) (0.6%) (1.2%) (0.6%) (−1.8%) (3.1%)
P=0.346 P=0.064 P=0.378 P=0.044 P=0.798 P=0.489 P=0.095 P=0.014 P=0.029
4°C 164 162 164 165 160 162 163 160 159 161
(−1.2%) (0.0%) (0.6%) (−2.4%) (−1.2%) (−0.6%) (−2.4%) (−3.1%) (−1.8%)
P= 0.064 P=0.006 P=0.065 P=0.157 P=0.106 P=0.020 P=0.023 P=0.008 P=0.047
w/o gel 24°C 160 159 160 159 162 160 164 159 164 304
(−0.6%) (0.0%) (−0.6%) (1.3%) (0.0%) (2.5%) (−0.6%) (2.5%) (90%)
P=0.864 P=0.063 P=0.600 P=0.394 P=0.593 P=0.284 P=0.269 P=0.648 P=0.001
4°C 160 162 160 161 163 168 165 163 164 201
(1.3%) (0.0%) (0.6%) (1.9%) (5%) (3.1%) (1.9%) (2.5%) (25.6%)
P=0.221 P=0.969 P=0.730 P=0.221 P=0.730 P=0.345 P=0.531 P=0.378 P= 0.001
Protein (total) (g/L) gel 24°C 71 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 71 1.2 %
(−1.4%) (−1.4%) (−1.4%) (−1.4%) (−1.4%) (−1.4%) (−1.4%) (−1.4%) (0.0%)
P=0.012 P=0.018 P=0.161 P=0.832 P=0.742 P=0.724 P=0.541 P=0.715 P=0.011
4°C 71 70 70 70 70 71 70 71 69 70
(−1.4%) (−1.4%) (−1.4%) (−1.4%) (0.0%) (−1.4%) (0.0%) (−2.8%) (0.0%)
P=0.467 P=0.490 P=0.449 P=0.374 P= 0.031 P=0.284 P=0.454 P=0.277 P=0.783
w/o gel 24°C 71 71 71 70 70 70 70 70 70 74
(0.0%) (0.0%) (−1.4%) (−1.4%) (−1.4%) (−1.4%) (−1.4%) (−1.4%) (4.2%)
P=0.071 P=0.627 P=0.225 P=0.162 P=0.127 P=0.102 P=0.301 P=0.169 P=0.008
4°C 71 70 71 70 70 70 69 71 70 72
(−1.4%) (0.0%) (−1.4%) (−1.4%) (−1.4%) (−2.8%) (0.0%) (−1.4%) (1.4%)
P=0.026 P=0.034 P=0.449 P=0.589 P=0.028 P=0.040 P=0.490 P=0.298 P=0.000
Triglycerides (mmol/L) gel 24°C 0.83 0.84 0.86 0.87 0.83 0.86 0.87 0.84 0.86 0.88 10.7 %
(1.2%) (3.6%) (4.8%) (0.0%) (2.7%) (4.8%) (1.2%) (3.6%) (6.0%)
P=0.059 P=0.145 P=0.004 P=0.009 P=0.062 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001
4°C 0.83 0.89 0.88 0.91 0.86 0.86 0.83 0.86 0.87 0.89
(7.2%) (6.0%) (9.6%) (3.6%) (3.6%) (0.0%) (3.6%) (4.8%) (7.2%)
P=0.001 P=0.193 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001
w/o gel 24°C 0.86 0.87 0.87 0.87 0.88 0.88 0.90 0.89 0.90 0.94
(1.2%) (1.2%) (1.2%) (2.3%) (2.3%) (4.7%) (3.5%) (4.7%) (9.3%)
P=0.002 P=0.002 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.010 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001
4°C 0.83 0.86 0.87 0.88 0.86 0.87 0.89 0.89 0.88 0.90
(3.6%) (4.8%) (6.0%) (3.6%) (4.8%) (7.2%) (7.2%) (6.0%) (8.4%)
P=0.015 P=0.002 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001
Urea nitrogen (mmol/L) gel 24°C 4.64 4.29 4.29 3.93 4.29 4.29 4.29 3.93 4.64 4.64 5.5 %
(−6.7%) (−6.7%) (−15.3%) (−6.7%) (−6.7%) (−6.7%) (−15.3%) (0.0%) (0.0%)
P=0.206 P=0.046 P=0.084 P=0.161 P=0.109 P=0.331 P=0.218 P=0.062 P=0.083
4°C 4.64 4.64 4.64 4.64 4.64 4.64 4.29 4.64 5.00 4.64
(0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (0.0%) (−7.8%) (0.0%) (7.8%) (0.0%)
P= 0.776 P=0.053 P=0.102 P=0.339 P=0.248 P=1.000 P=0.564 P=0.001 P=0.177
w/o gel 24°C 4.29 4.29 4.29 4.64 4.64 4.64 4.29 4.64 5.00 5.36
(0.0%) (0.0%) (8.2%) (8.2%) (8.2%) (0.0%) (8.2%) (16.6%) (25%)
P=1.000 P=0.942 P=0.130 P=0.206 P=0.796 P=0.1000 P=0.083 P=0.002 P=0.001
4°C 4.29 4.64 4.29 4.64 4.64 4.64 4.29 4.64 5.00 5.00
(8.2%) (0.0%) (8.2%) (8.2%) (8.2%) (0.0%) (8.2%) (16.6%) (16.6%)
P=0.564 P=0.958 P=0.564 P=0.298 P=0.963 P=0.856 P=0.080 P=0.001 P=0.006
Uric acid (μmol/L) gel 24°C 232 238 250 244 244 250 256 262 274 274 4.9%
(2.6%) (7.8%) (5.2%) (5.2%) (7.8%) (10.3%) (12.9%) (18.1%) (18.1%)
P=0.058 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001
4°C 232 226 232 238 238 232 244 244 250 244
0.003 (0.0%) (2.6%) (2.6%) (0.0%) (5.2%) (5.2%) (7.8%) (5.2%)
P=0.033 P=0.446 P=0.296 P=0.444 P=0.145 P=0.034 P=0.015 P=0.003 P=0.001
w/o gel 24°C 232 238 244 256 244 250 262 256 268 286
(2.6%) (5.2%) (10.3%) (5.2%) (7.8%) (12.9%) (10.3%) (15.5%) (23.3%)
P=0.003 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.002 P=0.004 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001 P=0.001
4°C 232 232 232 238 220 226 220 232 238 256
(0.0%) (0.0%) (2.6%) (−5.2%) (−2.6%) (−5.2%) (0.0%) (2.6%) (10.3%)
P=0.157 P=0.053 P=0.014 P=0.001 P=0.010 P=0.763 P=0.672 P=0.002 P=0.001
*

without gel.

P<0.006 values were written in bold font. Percentages in parenthesis are bias values of specific time points compared to initial value (0.5 h) (% change from T0 (0.5-h)).

Bold font indicates samples for which the differences exceeded the maximum desirable bias.