STABILITY OF TETRANECTIN CONCENTRATION IN BLOOD-SAMPLES

The variabilities of tetranectin in blood due to the use of serum or p lasma or due to differences in storage and handling of samples were st udied. 57 serum samples collected in 1979 from healthy women were anal ysed in 1991, the median tetranectin concentration was 10.8mg/l. In a control group from 1991 to 1992 with 178 healthy women, the median ser um tetranectin concentration was 10.9mg/l. For 51 plasma samples the m edian concentration was found to be 9.8 mg/l in 1989, 10.2 mg/l in 199 1 and 10.0 mg/l in 1992. No differences of tetranectin levels were fou nd in paired samples between plasma and serum, and between hemolyzed a nd non-hemolyzed samples. Different clotting temperatures and repetiti ve freezing and thawing were without any effect on the measured tetran ectin concentrations. In conclusion, tetranectin levels are the same i n plasma and serum, and samples can be handled and stored in different ways without any effect on the tetranectin concentration.