Tariq Butt, Kamran Masud, Hareem Butt, Muhammad Shoaib Bhatti.
Glucose level variation in blood with Sodium Fluoride and in Serum.
Pak J Med Health Sci Jan ;12(2):687-9.

Background: Blood samples for glucose estimation are being taken in containers with or without some additives to get correct level. There is need to determine whether some additive is required to reduce the cost of containers. Design: Quasi-experimental Place & Duration: January 2017 to December 2017 at the laboratory of Shoaib Hospital, Fateh Jang, Attock. Aim: To determine the difference in decrease in glucose level in serum and plasma( Sodium Fluoride (NaF) and EDTA) after 24 hours. Methods: Blood Specimens (n=134) were collected from each individual in two tubes. In tube-1, the serum was separated immediately after clotting and glucose level was estimated within 30 minutes . In second tube containing NaF and EDTA, plasma was separated for glucose level estimation . Then these tubes were kept for 24 hours at room temperature before glucose estimation second time . Glucose–Liquizyme (Germany) kit was used for glucose estimation using Semi auto chemistry Analyzer (Rayto, China). Results: There were a total of 134 patients from whom blood samples were taken. The age range was from 19 years to 65 years. Among them 78 were males and 56 were females. The mean glucose level in all the plasma samples was 100.73 +-30.21 mg/100ml (Mean+SD) whereas mean glucose level in serum was also 100.70 +-30.51 mg/100ml (p=0.833). However, the mean glucose level in plasma after 24 hours was 92.33 +-28.87 mg/100ml, whereas it was 96.48 +-29.05 mg/100ml in serum (p=<0.0001). Conclusion: There was no significant difference of glucose level in plasma (with NaF and EDTA) and serum performed within 30 minutes . However, after 24 hours the fall in plasma glucose level was more than that of serum. Use of serum will help in reduction of extra expenses incurred with use of collection tubes with NaF and EDTA.

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