Research

The effects of hemolysis and lipemia on biochemical analyses and comparison of the methods used in the elimination of lipemic effect

  • Yaşar Hüseyin Türkmen
  • Muhittin A. Serdar
  • Adnan Haşimi
  • Murat Cihan
  • İsmail Kurt
  • Şerif Akman
  • Türker Kutluay
  • M. Kemal Erbil

Received Date: 07.08.2006 Accepted Date: 12.12.2006 Gulhane Med J 2007;49(1):5-10

In this study our objectives were the evaluation of interferences on biochemical analyses caused by hemolysis and lipemia, which are of important causes of interference, and prevention of these interferences. Various biochemical analyses were carried out by using five serum pools with different hemoglobin concentrations, three serum pools with different lipid concentrations and ten intrinsically natural lipemic sera from different patients. Moreover, efficacies of ultracentrifugation, carbontetrachloride (CCl4), LipoClear® extraction and 1:4 dilution for the elimination of lipemia were compared. Regarding the effect of hemolysis, serum LDH, conjugated bilirubin, AST and potassium levels were found to increase, and amylase and uric acid levels were found to decrease at hemoglobin concentrations of >750 mg/dL. In the study of in vitro lipemia, total protein was especially affected, and serum urea nitrogen, bilirubins, AST, ALT, GGT and LDH were affected in naturally lipemic serums. All of the lipemia elimination methods were found to be adequately efficacious. Ultracentrifugation and LipoClear® methods in elimination of the lipemic effect are expensive and require special equipment. Dilution and CCl4 precipitation methods are more practical, appropriate and economical for every laboratory.

Keywords: Biochemical analysis, hemolysis, interference, lipemia