EVALUATION OF THE DU-PONT AXIAL SEPARATION SYSTEM

We evaluated the Du Pont Axial Separation Technology (AST) system, whi ch permanently separates a blood specimen into serum or plasma and cel ls in 1 min. Blood was collected in axial processing containers by sta ndard venipuncture techniques and processed in an Axial Separation Mod ule. Paired patient samples (n = 48 serum pairs, n = 50 plasma pairs) revealed no clinically significant differences in results for common c hemistry analytes from samples collected in Becton Dickinson Vacutaine r Tubes and centrifuged conventionally vs those from samples collected and processed in the AST system, except for a bias in serum (but not plasma) lactate dehydrogenase activity. This bias was dependent on the extent of stretching of the clot during processing and could be minim ized by clotting the blood sample horizontally (axially), We believe t he rapid separation of blood by the AST system has the potential to su bstantially reduce preanalytical specimen handling time.