Variations in serum glucose, urea, creatinine and sodium and potassium as a consequence of delayed transport/processing of samples and delay in assays.

Fifty blood samples were drawn in replicates and brought to the laboratory. One batch of the samples was processed immediately and the glucose, urea, creatinine and the electrolytes, sodium and potassium were assayed. The batch of replicate samples were processed after three hours and the assays performed. The assays for the above analytes were again performed from the replicate samples after twenty-four hours of serum-clot contact. The variations of the values of the above analytes were scrutinized. Glucose values showed significant variation with time. There was significant decrease in the glucose values after three hours and after further twenty-four hours of serum-clot contact the values reduced significantly. The variations in the values of urea and creatinine and also sodium after processing the samples after three hours and also further twenty-four of serum-clot contact were insignificant. The values of potassium after processing after three hours were insignificant but the values however increased significantly after further twenty-four hours of serum-clot contact.