Stability of Ketone Bodies in Serum in Dependence on Storage Time and Storage Temperature
Fritzsche, I.; Buehrdel, P.; Melcher, R.; Hans-Joachim Boehme
Clinical Laboratory 42(7-8): 399-403
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 1433-6510 PMID: 11499803 Document Number: 7672
The serum concentrations of β-hydrorybutyrate and acetoacetate as well as the β-hydrorybutyrate/acetoacetate ratio are important parameters for the differential diagnosis of certain inborn errors of metabolism. Acetoacetate, however, is an unstable compound which becomes rapidly decarboxylated. At a storage temperature of -20°C about 40% of the acetoacetate is lost within 7 days and after 40 days storage at this temperature virtually all of the acetoacetate has become degraded. At -80°C the decomposition of acetoacetate occurs with a much slower rate and only 15% of the initial acetoacetate is lost after 40 days storage. The rate constants for the decarboxylation reaction were found to be (6.4 ± 2.9) * 10 -5 [min -1 ] at -20°C and (04 ± 0.3) * 10 -5 [min -1 ] at -80°C. In contrast, β-hydroxybutyrate is very stable during storage and hence should be used as main parameter for the evaluation of ketonemia. If determination of acetoacetate and/or of the β-hydroxybutyrate/acetoacetate ratio is necessary, an assay immediately after collecting the serum samples is recommended. Otherwise, the serum samples should be frozen as soon as possible and stored at -80°C during transport and storage.
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