PREANALYTICAL FACTORS AND STANDARDIZED SPECIMEN COLLECTION - INFLUENCE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS

In order to devise and evaluate standardized specimen collection proce dures, we studied the influence of psychological stress on the results of commonly analysed blood components: creatine kinase, lactate dehyd rogenase, total protein and albumin in serum and blood picture. In add ition, serum cortisol was assayed. Two kinds of stress were used: the Stroop test, a colour conflict task, and the thrill caused by the firs t jump of new parachutists. More changes were observed after the parac hutist test than after the Stroop test. There was a difference in the responses of males and females. Females were more sensitive, especiall y to the parachutist test. Most of the changes observed were interpret ed as being caused by haemoconcentration, possibly related to muscular tension. Cortisol, commonly used to indicate the level of stress, did not react much and is therefore not a good index of psychological str ess.