Clin Biochem

Abstract

ObjectiveWe aimed to measure separately the contributions of heat and humidity to changes in levels of 34 markers of inborn disorders in dried-blood-spot (DBS) samples.Design and MethodsPaired sets of DBSs were stored at 37\uc2\ub0C for predetermined intervals in low-humidity and high-humidity environments. Marker levels of all samples in each complete sample set were measured in a single analytic run.ResultsDuring the 30\uc2\ub15 day study, galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase and biotinidase lost almost 65% of initial activities in low-humidity storage; most of the degradation in 27 other markers was attributable to adverse effects of high humidity storage; seven markers in DBSs stored at high humidity lost more than 90% of initial levels by the end of the study and four of the seven lost more than 50% of initial levels within the first week of storage.ConclusionsMinimizing both humidity and temperature in the DBS transportation and storage environments is essential to maintaining sample integrity.CC999999/Intramural CDC HHS/United States2015-09-02T00:00:00Z21963384PMC455777