Published Paper Details:

Glucose is one of the least stable analytes in blood sample. Estimation of true glucose level is important for diagnosis of diabetes at the earliest, monitoring control of blood sugar and also to identify high risk patients. Erythrocytes in blood utilize glucose by glycolysis by the glycolytic enzyme complexes present in their membrane. There is also reduction in blood sugar level in collected and stored blood due to glycolysis occurring in white blood cells. To avoid this reduction in the glucose level, varieties of methods are employed. Placing the blood samples in ice slurry and immediate separation of plasma from blood cells may prevent the reduction of glucose level. But this practice may not always be possible when transporting samples from the field to the clinical laboratory. To decrease glycolysis during storage, conventionally, sodium fluoride is added to blood. Other technique like use of serum gel separator is also useful in slowing down the glycolysis. It is further demonstrated by that acidification of blood samples using a combination of citrate buffer, NaF and EDTA was more effective in arresting glycolysis during storage