Sample Submission for Serum Vitamin E Analysis

The Toxicology Laboratory Section of the ADDL has recently completed studies showing that any visible erthyrocytehemolysis can result in partial to nearly complete degradation of vitamin E in porcine serum samples. This is similar to the effect of hemolysis causing vitamin E degradation in equine serum samples which has been previously reported in the scientific literature.   Therefore, to obtain accurate serum vitamin E concentrations, it is important to make certain that for all species, especially swine and horses, serum samples for vitamin E analysis do not have any visible hemolysis.  Also, it is important that clot separator tubes not be used for submitting serum for vitamin E analysis. The separating substance present in these tubes greatly complicates the analytical method used by the ADDL Toxicology Laboratory.

- by Jennifer Harms, B.S., Technician Christina Wilson, B.S.,Asst Chemist Robert Everson,PhD, Analytical Chemist Stephen Hooser, DVM, PhD, Toxicologist