The Effect of Tube Type and Time on Glucose Stability
https://doi.org/10.15605/jafes.041.S1
- Author:
Prisheila Mahendran
1
;
Jeyakantha Ratnasingam
2
;
Farhi Ain binti Jamaluddin
1
;
Ai Chin Yeoh
1
;
Nurdini binti Alias
1
;
Khalida binti Ramdzan
1
;
Pavai Sthaneshwar
1
Author Information
1. Division of Laboratory Medicine, Department of Pathology
2. Endocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, University Malaya
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH:
Glucose
- From:
Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies
2026;41(S1):149-
- CountryPhilippines
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Introduction:Glycolysis continues after blood collection and may reduce
glucose concentrations in vitro, potentially compromising
diagnostic accuracy. The effectiveness of glycolysisinhibiting additives differs among blood collection tubes.
Citrate rapidly inhibits glycolysis through immediate
acidification, whereas fluoride acts more slowly by
inhibiting enolase at a later stage of the glycolytic pathway.
This study aimed to compare short-term glucose stability in
four commonly used blood collection tubes under routine
laboratory conditions.
Methodology:Venous blood samples were collected from 100 volunteers
into Rapid Serum Tubes (RST), Barricor tubes, Fluoride
tubes, and Citrate tubes. Glucose concentrations were
measured at 30 and 60 minutes after collection using the
hexokinase method. A repeated-measures ANOVA was
performed to evaluate the effects of Time, Tube Type,
and the Time × Tube interaction (α = 0.05), followed by
Bonferroni-adjusted pairwise comparisons.
Results:At 30 minutes, glucose concentrations were highest in
the Fluoride tube (5.528 mmol/L), followed closely by
the Citrate tube (5.505 mmol/L), while lower values were
observed in RST (5.434 mmol/L) and Barricor tubes (5.430
mmol/L). By 60 minutes, glucose levels had declined in
all tubes; however, the decrease was more pronounced in
serum-based tubes. RST values fell to 5.277 mmol/L and
Barricor to 5.300 mmol/L, whereas Fluoride and Citrate
tubes remained relatively stable at 5.449 mmol/L and
5.489 mmol/L, respectively. Overall, glucose decreased
significantly between 30 and 60 minutes (mean decrease =
0.096 mmol/L, p <0.001; partial η² = 0.705). Tube Type also
had a significant effect on glucose concentrations (F(3,297)
= 42.06, p <0.001; partial η² = 0.298).
Conclusion:Fluoride and Citrate tubes provided the most effective
preservation of glucose concentrations over 60 minutes,
showing minimal glycolytic decline. In contrast, RST and
Barricor tubes demonstrated significantly greater glucose
loss, highlighting the importance of rapid processing when
serum-based tubes are used.
- Full text:2026081017485555521EP_S001.pdf
