Evaluation of the BD Vacutainer® PST™ II Blood Collection Tube for special chemistry analytes

Background: The performance of the BD Vacutainer (R) PST (TM) II Tube for testing of special chemistry analytes was evaluated in comparison to serum and heparin plasma non-gel blood collection tubes. The comparison tubes included the BD Vacutainer (R) Serum Plus Tube, the BD Vacutainer (R) Lithium Heparin Plus Tube, and the BD Vacutainer (R) Lithium Heparin Glass Tube. Methods: Tubes were drawn by routine venipuncture from 42 subjects according to a randomized draw order. Tubes were processed and centrifuged according to recommended handling procedures. Serum and plasma from the comparison tubes were aliquoted to secondary containers prior to analysis. Specimens were then tested for selected special chemistry analytes at two time intervals (initial time and after 24 h storage). Analytes tested included thyroid stimulating hormone, free thyroxine, total thyroxine, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, ferritin, cortisol, vitamin B12, folate, and testosterone. The data were collected and analyzed by analysis of variance and mean bias comparisons. Results: The performance of the BD Vacutainer (R) PST (TM) II Tube was considered to be clinically equivalent to all three comparison tubes for all assays. Test results from the BD Vacutainer (R) PST (TM) II Tube and from aliquots from the three comparison tubes at 24 h were considered to be clinically equivalent to those at initial time for all assays. Conclusions: The BD Vacutainer (R) PST (TM) II Tube provided clinically equivalent results to serum and plasma non-gel tubes and good storage stability for the assays evaluated without the need to aliquot.