Korean J Lab Med.  2007 Feb;27(1):69-75. 10.3343/kjlm.2007.27.1.69.

Comparison of Two New Plastic Tubes (Sekisui INSEPACK and Green Cross Green Vac-Tube) with BD Vacutainer Tubes for 49 Analytes

• Oh SH
• Ki CS

• KMID: 1121663
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3343/kjlm.2007.27.1.69

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Becton Dickinson (BD) Vacutainer tubes are the most widely used vacuum system for collection of blood in clinical laboratories. We compared the performance of two new tubes, Sekisui INSEPACK tube and Green Cross Green Vac-Tube, with the existing BD Vacutainer tubes for 49 common analytes. METHODS: A total of 20 apparently healthy volunteers were recruited for this study. For rountine chemistry and thyroid function tests, we compared the results of two new vacutainer tubes and BD Vacutainer tubes with those of BD glass tubes at t =0 hr by student paired t test. Hematology and coagulation test results of the two new vacutainer tubes were compared with those of BD Vacutainer tubes at t =0 hr. To study the stability of each analyte, results at t =24 +/- 2 hr, t =72 +/- 2 hr, and t =168 +/- 2 hr were compared with those at t =0 hr for each tube. RESULTS: Although paired t test analysis revealed statistically significant differences between two tested tubes and existing BD Vacutainer tube in several tests (total protein, total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, glucose, uric acid, calcium, inorganic phosphorus, direct bilirubin, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, lactate dehydrogenase, triiodothyronine, and thyroxine), these differences were not considered clinically significant. Stability of two new vacuum tubes for each analyte was similar to that of the BD Vacutainer tube. CONCLUSIONS: Sekisui INSEPACK tube and Green Cross Green-Vac Tube showed a satisfactory analytical performance compared with existing BD Vacutainer tubes. We conclude that these two new plastic vacutainer tubes are acceptable for the commonly ordered laboratory tests.

Keyword

Vacutainer system; BD Vacutainer; Sekisui INEPACK; Green Cross Green Vac-Tube; Performance; Stability

MeSH Terms

Blood Cells/chemistry
Blood Proteins/analysis
Blood Specimen Collection/*instrumentation
Equipment and Supplies/standards
Female
Humans
Male

Reference

References

1. Reinartz JJ, Ramey ML, Fowler MC, Killeen AA. Plastic vs glass SST evacuated serum-separator blood-drawing tubes for endocrinologic analytes. Clin Chem. 1993; 39:2535–6.

2. Henry JB, Kurec AS. The clinical laboratory: organization, purposes, and practice. Henry JB, editor. Clinical diagnosis and management by laboratory methods. 20th ed.Philadelphia: WB Saunders;2001. p. 13–7.

3. Boeynaems JM, De Leener A, Dessars B, Villa-Lobos HR, Aubry JC, Cotton F, et al. Evaluation of a new generation of plastic evacuated blood-collection tubes in clinical chemistry, therapeutic drug monitoring, hormone and trace metal analysis. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2004; 42:67–71.

4. Smets EM, Dijkstra-Lagemaat JE, Blankenstein MA. Influence of blood collection in plastic vs. glass evacuated serum-separator tubes on hormone and tumour marker levels. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2004; 42:435–9.

5. Landt M, Wilhite TR, Smith CH. A new plastic evacuated tube with plasma separator. J Clin Lab Anal. 1995; 9:101–6.

6. Van Cott EM, Lewandrowski KB, Patel S, Grzybek DY, Patel HS, Fletcher SR, et al. Comparison of glass K3EDTA versus plastic K2E-DTA blood-drawing tubes for complete blood counts, reticulocyte counts, and white blood cell differentials. Lab Hematol. 2003; 9:10–4.

7. Kratz A, Stanganelli N, Van Cott EM. A comparison of glass and plastic blood collection tubes for routine and specialized coagulation assays: a comprehensive study. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2006; 130:39–44.

8. Hill BM, Laessig RH, Koch DD, Hassemer DJ. Comparison of plastic vs. glass evacuated serum-separator (SST) blood-drawing tubes for common clinical chemistry determinations. Clin Chem. 1992; 38:1474–8.

9. Medicare, Medicaid and CLIA programs; regulations implementing the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA)–HCFA. Final rule with comment period. Fed Regist. 1992; 57:7002–186.

10. Zhang DJ, Elswick RK, Miller WG, Bailey JL. Effect of serum-clot contact time on clinical chemistry laboratory results. Clin Chem. 1998; 44:1325–33.

11. Fraser CG, editor. Biological variation: From principles to practice. Washington, D.C.: AACC press;2001. p. 50–4. 133–41.

12. Laessig RH, Westgard JO, Carey RN, Hassemer DJ, Schwartz TH, Feldbruegge DH. Assessment of a serum separator device for obtaining serum specimens suitable for clinical analyses. Clin Chem. 1976; 22:235–9.

13. Bowen RA, Chan Y, Cohen J, Rehak NN, Hortin GL, Csako G, et al. Effect of blood collection tubes on total triiodothyronine and other laboratory assays. Clin Chem. 2005; 51:424–33.

14. Gosselin RC, Janatpour K, Larkin EC, Lee YP, Owings JT. Comparison of samples obtained from 3.2% sodium citrate glass and two 3.2% sodium citrate plastic blood collection tubes used in coagulation testing. Am J Clin Pathol. 2004; 122:843–8.