Clinical biochemistry laboratory rejection rates due to various types of preanalytical errors

Introduction: Preanalytical errors, along the process from the beginning of test requests to the admissions of the specimens to the laboratory, cause the rejection of samples. The aim of this study was to better explain the reasons of rejected samples, regarding to their rates in certain test groups in our laboratory. Materials and methods: This preliminary study was designed on the rejected samples in one-year period, based on the rates and types of inappropriateness. Test requests and blood samples of clinical chemistry, immunoassay, hematology, glycated hemoglobin, coagulation and erythrocyte sedimentation rate test units were evaluated. Types of inappropriateness were evaluated as follows: improperly labelled samples, hemolysed, clotted specimen, insufficient volume of specimen and total request errors. Results: A total of 5,183,582 test requests from 1,035,743 blood collection tubes were considered. The total rejection rate was 0.65 %. The rejection rate of coagulation group was significantly higher (2.28%) than the other test groups (P < 0.001) including insufficient volume of specimen error rate as 1.38%. Rejection rates of hemolysis, clotted specimen and insufficient volume of sample error were found to be 8%, 24% and 34%, respectively. Total request errors, particularly, for unintelligible requests were 32% of the total for inpatients. Conclusions: The errors were especially attributable to unintelligible requests of inappropriate test requests, improperly labelled samples for inpatients and blood drawing errors especially due to insufficient volume of specimens in a coagulation test group. Further studies should be performed after corrective and preventive actions to detect a possible decrease in rejecting sample

Composición física y química de diversas genotipos de nueces ( Juglans regia L.) cultivadas en Turquía

Walnut ( Juglans regia L.) samples were collected during the 2000 and 2001 harvests from different selections of trees grown in Turkey . Important physical and biochemical properties of fruit were examined in these walnut types. At the end of this study, 10 types were selected and nut and kernel properties, fatty acid composition and the proximate composition of these selections which are commonly grown in Turkey were evaluated. Physical properties are attributed to the quality criteria of nuts. Investigated genotypes showed good quality according to the test results. The total oil content ranged from 61.97 to 70.92 % while the crude protein ranged from 15.17 to 19.24 %. Ash ranged from 1.26 to 2.06 % while the moisture was found between 3.25-3.91 % of the kernel. The total carbohydrate was calculated as between 8.05-13.23 %. The oleic acid content of the oils ranged from 21.18 to 40.20% of the total fatty acids, while the linoleic acid content ranged from 43.94 to 60.12 % and the linolenic contents from 6.91 to11.52 %. It was found that palmitic acid was between 5.24 and 7.62 %, while stearic acid ranged from 2.56 to 3.67 %Las nueces ( Juglans regia L.) fueron recolectadas durante los años 2000 y 2001 en diversos nogales seleccionados de Turquía y analizadas para determinar sus propiedades físicas y bioquímicas. Se seleccionaron 10 genotipos en los que fueron determinadas las propiedades de la cáscara y la semilla, la composición en ácidos grasos, así como su composición general. Las propiedades físicas son un atributo de calidad de las nueces. Los genotipos investigados mostraron una buena calidad de acuerdo a los resultados. El contenido total en aceite varió entre el 61.97 y el 70.92 % mientras que la proteína cruda fue del 15.17-19.24 %. La ceniza fue del 1.26-2.06 % y la humedad fue del 3.25-3.91 % de la semilla. Los carbohidratos totales fueron el 8.05-13.23 %. El contenido en ácido oleico fue del 21.18-40.20 % de los ácidos grasos totales, mientras que el contenido en linoleico fue el 43.94-60.12 %, y el de linolénico el 6.91-11.52 %. El palmítico fue el 5.24-7.62 % y el esteárico el 2.56-3.67 %

Propiedades de calidad de ensilaje de Crotalaria (Crotalaria juncea L.) y maíz (Zea mays L.)

Maize is an ideal forage crop for ensilage because of its high levels of fermentable carbohydrates, although it is low in protein. Sunn hemp is a legume with a high crude protein content with potential to be used in combination with maize to provide a silage with a higher protein content. Different percentages of sunn hemp-maize mixtures of 80-20, 60-40, 40-60 and 20-80 respectively were compared to silages of sole maize and sunn hemp. In the laboratory study, DLG classifications (color, smell, structure, total score and quality class), silage loss (%), silage pH, dry matter content, flieg score, crude protein content, crude ash content, NDF, ADF, metabolic energy (MJ kg/DM), dry matter intake, percent digestible dry matter and relative feed value were determined at the end of 60 days ensilage. The crude protein contents of silages increased as the sunn hemp ratio in the mixtures increased. In addition, pure sunn hemp silage and mixtures, especially 80% sunn hemp mixed with 20% maize, were found suitable for silage and it was concluded that sunn hemp and sunn hemp-maize silage mixtures could be used in animal husbandry

An Alternative Crop for Mediterranean Climatic Conditions: Crotalaria juncea L. (Sunn hemp)

WOS: 000467877800020To obtain quality roughage required for the healthy feeding of animals is one of the most important problems of livestock. Many forage crops are being grown in the different regions of our country which has different climate, soil and production patterns. Crotalaria juncea L. is a leguminous plant which is an important source of protein and has an impressive quality of forage crop. It is known that the leaves of the plant contain 30% protein. And also; the use of nitrogen fixed by sunn hemp through the gramineous or other family plants growing in mixture with sunn hemp provides them advantage. The organic matter of Crotalaria juncea L. is degraded in a short time (about 2 weeks) and the highest rate of nitrogen mineralization was known to occur during this period of time. Sunn hemp which generally can be evaluated as green manure or forage crop is an annual and summer leguminous plant and has different usage possibilities (forage, green manure, cover plant, fiber, biodiesel etc.) in many countries. In this regard, promising scientific studies in our country will help the plant to be more recognized and will increase its importance. This literature review aims to introduce this plant, an possible agricultural potential for our country, with many aspects

Optimization of Malaxation Process using Major Aroma Compounds in Virgin Olive Oil

ABSTRACT Optimization of major aroma compounds in olive oils produced from fruits at three maturity stages wasstudied. A central composite design was used for the optimization of malaxation conditions of temperature and times, each at five levels with 13 runs including five central points. The responses of interest were trans-2-hexenal and hexanal, which were investigated and their contents were optimized. A full quadratic second order regression model including the linear, quadratic, and two factor interaction effects was proposed to explain the variation in the contents of target compounds depending on the malaxation conditions. Adequacies of models were evaluated by checking regression coefficients for each model. Models were found to work with high success for trans-2-hexenal prediction for oils from fruits at both purple and black stages, whereas the model for hexanalwas only in black stage oil. Their regression coefficients were higher than 0.86. Influences of time and temperature for the malaxation process were found to be significant for the transition of major aroma compounds from the fruit matrix to olive oil. The optimum conditions of temperature and time pairs to maximize trans-2-hexenal and hexanal was found to be 23°C/31 minutes for black olive and to maximize only trans-2-hexenal was also 29°C/41 minutes for purple olive

Evaluation of Carbonic Maceration Effect as a Pre-Treatment on the Drying Process of Strawberry

In the last decade, organic-based food materials have taken an increasing marketing share due to consumers&rsquo; interests. Strawberry is one of the world&rsquo;s most important berry crops, with growing production. This study aimed to evaluate the drying process of organic strawberries and to determine the influences of process conditions on drying characteristics. To improve drying performance, carbonic maceration (CM) was investigated as a pre-treatment. The experimental design and the optimization of the drying with pre-treatment conditions were performed using statistical modeling (response surface method (RSM), central composite design (CCD)). Using the RSM, dependent variables such as drying time, total phenolic compound, antioxidant capacity, ascorbic acid concentration, and hue value were optimized as a function of operating conditions of CM pre-treatment and following the drying process. The results indicated that drying performance varied depending on drying temperature as well as process conditions of CM. Drying time was reduced by more than 30% with CM treatment compared to control. Furthermore, ascorbic acid content, antioxidant activity, and surface color of dried samples were protected better in the case of CM-pre-treated strawberries. Results showed that the optimum drying temperature, maceration pressure, maceration temperature, and maceration time parameters were 64.8 &deg;C, 3.54 bar, 4.2 &deg;C, and 4 h, respectively. The high potential of CM should be considered in terms of process improvement and product quality for drying processes. Thus, this study provides key outcomes in this respect. According to the obtained results, the CM was assessed as a promising technique applied before the drying of organic strawberries

Evaluation of Carbonic Maceration Effect as a Pre-Treatment on the Drying Process of Strawberry

In the last decade, organic-based food materials have taken an increasing marketing share due to consumers’ interests. Strawberry is one of the world’s most important berry crops, with growing production. This study aimed to evaluate the drying process of organic strawberries and to determine the influences of process conditions on drying characteristics. To improve drying performance, carbonic maceration (CM) was investigated as a pre-treatment. The experimental design and the optimization of the drying with pre-treatment conditions were performed using statistical modeling (response surface method (RSM), central composite design (CCD)). Using the RSM, dependent variables such as drying time, total phenolic compound, antioxidant capacity, ascorbic acid concentration, and hue value were optimized as a function of operating conditions of CM pre-treatment and following the drying process. The results indicated that drying performance varied depending on drying temperature as well as process conditions of CM. Drying time was reduced by more than 30% with CM treatment compared to control. Furthermore, ascorbic acid content, antioxidant activity, and surface color of dried samples were protected better in the case of CM-pre-treated strawberries. Results showed that the optimum drying temperature, maceration pressure, maceration temperature, and maceration time parameters were 64.8 °C, 3.54 bar, 4.2 °C, and 4 h, respectively. The high potential of CM should be considered in terms of process improvement and product quality for drying processes. Thus, this study provides key outcomes in this respect. According to the obtained results, the CM was assessed as a promising technique applied before the drying of organic strawberries