Effect of hemolysis, jaundice and lipemia on biochemical analysis

release time:2021-11-22 16:41:05

1. Hemolysis

Hemolysis is one of the most common interfering factors in clinical biochemical tests. Hemolysis is the rupture of red blood cells in the blood. The contents of the red blood cells enter the serum. As a result, the concentration or activity of the biochemical test substance is affected.

Common principles of hemolysis affecting biochemical assays

(1) Red blood cells contain high levels of potassium ions, lactate dehydrogenase, and aspartate aminotransferase. When hemolysis occurs in the specimen, it leads to an increase in the concentration in the serum, which has a significant effect on the results.

(2) Hemoglobin in red blood cells has a strong absorption peak at 540nm. For items detected using the endpoint method (e.g. total protein, absorbance value at 540nm) there is a more obvious interference.

(3) The chemical substances in the red blood cells are released and react chemically with the chemical components in the serum. This can affect the concentration or activity of biochemical assays.

Commonly interfered with items.

Increased: serum potassium, serum phosphorus, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin, creatine kinase, creatine kinase isoenzyme, lactate dehydrogenase, alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, total protein, etc.

Decrease: alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, etc.

2. Jaundice

Jaundice is an abnormal color of the specimen due to high bilirubin in the serum. Bilirubin itself is a reducing agent. It neutralizes the oxidizing components of reagents or intermediate reaction products. This can lead to a shortage of reagents or depletion of intermediate products, which can affect the reaction and ultimately the test result.

Common interfered items in biochemical tests.

Decreased: serum creatinine, HDL, LDL, glucose (glucose oxidase method), prealbumin.

3. Lipemia

Biochemical tests rely mainly on the different colors of the products after the reaction. There is a strong absorbance value at a specific wavelength as a way to determine the concentration or activity of the substance being tested. When there is a high level of celiac particles in the blood (lipid blood), it can cloud the specimen. Interference with light scattering, resulting in changes in the final absorbance value, affecting the test results.

Commonly interfered items

Decreased: alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, albumin, phosphorus

Elevated: total bilirubin, total protein, serum potassium, serum sodium, serum chloride, blood glucose, etc.

Prev Return Next

Buying Guide of Affordable Chemistry Analyzers in 2025

2025-02-11

Discover cheap chemistry analyzers for 2025. Our buying guide explores top models like Mindray BA 88A, Microlab ARX 199, and Seamaty SMT70A. Find reliable performance without breaking the bank.

5 Common Sterilisation Methods for Medical Devices

2022-04-11

Sterilisation is the physical or chemical removal of all microorganisms (including budding spores) from medical devices, dressings and other objects to a level of sterility in order to avoid the occurrence of infections and the spread of disease caused by medical devices during use.

With a portable biochemistry analyzer, the vet clinic saves time and costs!

2021-08-04

"I'm glad we found the SMT-120VP fully automated veterinary biochemistry analyzer. We think it is the ideal testing tool to assist veterinarians with clinical testing, whether in a small animal practice or a larger veterinary hospital, and it is extremely easy to use, does not require specialized personnel, and can be operated by everyone on the lab team."