Analysis of the Stability of Urea in Dried Blood Spots Collected and Stored on Filter Paper

The ability to use dry blood spots (DBSs) on filter paper for the analysis of urea levels could be an important diagnostic tool for areas that have limited access to laboratory facilities. We developed a method for the extraction and quantification of urea from DBSs that were stored on 3M Whatman filter paper and investigated the effect of long-term storage on the level of urea in DBSs. DBSs of 4.5 mm in diameter were used for our assay, and we determined the urea levels in blood using a commercially available enzymatic kit (UV GLDH-method; Randox laboratories Ltd., UK). The DBSs on filter discs were stored at 4degrees C or at 37degrees C for 120 days. The mean intra- and inter-assay coefficient of variance for our method of urea extraction from dried blood was 4.2% and 6.3%, respectively. We collected 75 fresh blood samples and compared the urea content of each fresh sample with the urea content of DBSs taken from corresponding fresh blood samples. Regression analysis reported a regression coefficient (r) value of 0.97 and a recovery of urea from dried spots was 102.2%. Urea concentrations in DBSs were stable for up to 120 and 90 days when stored at 4degrees C and 37degrees C, respectively. Our results show that urea can be stored and quantitatively recovered from small volumes of blood that was collected on filter paper.

Analysis of the Stability of Urea in Dried Blood Spots Collected and Stored on Filter Paper

The ability to use dry blood spots (DBSs) on filter paper for the analysis of urea levels could be an important diagnostic tool for areas that have limited access to laboratory facilities. We developed a method for the extraction and quantification of urea from DBSs that were stored on 3M Whatman filter paper and investigated the effect of long-term storage on the level of urea in DBSs. DBSs of 4.5 mm in diameter were used for our assay, and we determined the urea levels in blood using a commercially available enzymatic kit (UV GLDH-method; Randox laboratories Ltd., UK). The DBSs on filter discs were stored at 4degrees C or at 37degrees C for 120 days. The mean intra- and inter-assay coefficient of variance for our method of urea extraction from dried blood was 4.2% and 6.3%, respectively. We collected 75 fresh blood samples and compared the urea content of each fresh sample with the urea content of DBSs taken from corresponding fresh blood samples. Regression analysis reported a regression coefficient (r) value of 0.97 and a recovery of urea from dried spots was 102.2%. Urea concentrations in DBSs were stable for up to 120 and 90 days when stored at 4degrees C and 37degrees C, respectively. Our results show that urea can be stored and quantitatively recovered from small volumes of blood that was collected on filter paper.

Antioxidant status in coronary heart disease [CHD] patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

The present study was carried out to see the levels of vitamin C, vitamin E and total antioxidant [AO] in Coronary Heart Disease [CHD] patients with and without Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus [T2DM]. In various previous studies it has been reported that, diabetes, hypertension and smoking are risk factors for CHD and all risk factors were common in these patients. Serum was tested from 80 CHD patients and 21 healthy controls, matched for age, height, and weight. No significant difference was seen between the age, height and weight of the subjects and controls. CHD patients were mostly male, smokers, over 40 year of age and belonging upper class families. The mean plasma glucose was significantly higher [p<0.05] in CHD patients having T2DM as compare to CHD patient with out T2DM. Risk factors for CHD, like diabetes, hypertension and smoking were common in these patients. No significant difference was seen in vitamin C level of patients of CHD. Vitamin E level was significantly [p < 0.05] low among the CHD patients as compared to controls and a significant [p < 0.05] decrease in mean vitamin E level was observed among smoker CHD patients as compared to non-smoker CHD patients. But no significant difference in vitamin C and vitamin E levels of CHD patients with diabetes and hypertension were observed when compared with CHD patients having no such complaints. The CHD patients' total antioxidant level was significantly [p < 0.05] decreased as compared to controls. The total AO [Vit. C and E] were not significantly higher in CHD patients with hypertension and diabetes as compared to those patients of CHD having no hypertension and diabetes