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  • Title: Analytes related to erythrocyte metabolism are reliable biomarkers for preanalytical error due to delayed plasma processing in metabolomics studies.
    Author: Jain M, Kennedy AD, Elsea SH, Miller MJ.
    Journal: Clin Chim Acta; 2017 Mar; 466():105-111. PubMed ID: 28069401.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Delaying plasma separation after phlebotomy (processing delay) can cause perturbations of numerous small molecule analytes. This poses a major challenge to the clinical application of metabolomics analyses. In this study, we further define the analyte changes that occur during processing delays and generate a model for the post hoc detection of this preanalytical error. METHODS: Using an untargeted metabolomics platform we analyzed EDTA-preserved plasma specimens harvested after processing delays lasting from minutes to days. Identified biomarkers were tested on (i) a test-set of samples exposed to either minimal (n=28) or long delays (n=40) and (ii) samples collected in a clinical setting for metabolomics analysis (n=141). RESULTS: A total of 149 of 803 plasma analytes changed significantly during processing delays lasting 0-20h. Biomarkers related to erythrocyte metabolism, e.g., 5-oxoproline, lactate, and an ornithine/arginine ratio, were the strongest predictors of plasma separation delays, providing 100% diagnostic accuracy in the test set. Together these biomarkers could accurately predict processing delays >2h in a pilot study and we found evidence of sample mishandling in 4 of 141 clinically derived specimens. CONCLUSIONS: Our study highlights the widespread effects of processing delays and proposes that erythrocyte metabolism creates a reproducible signal that can identify mishandled specimens in metabolomics studies.
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