The pre-analysis of glucose determination is a science in itself, even for experienced doctors. MedLabPortal interviewed Prof. Matthias Nauck , who has been head of the Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine at the University Medical Center Greifswald since 2002.

MedLabPortal: Prof. Nauck, can you summarize the current state of affairs in terms of glucose determination in a few sentences?

Prof. Nauck: With pleasure. The repetition of the state of the art is: Blood collection tubes that contain “only sodium fluoride” do not inhibit glucose breakdown in the first few hours, because the inhibition affects the enzyme “enolase”, which is not at the beginning of the cascade of glycolysis. Thus, the glucose values from these blood collection tubes do not correspond to the state of the art.

MedLabPortal: That means in numbers….

Prof. Nauck: …. a reduction in glucose of five to seven percent in the first hour.

MedLabPortal: And now?

Prof. Nauck: There is an alternative procedure: heparin whole blood with gel is centrifuged immediately after blood is taken. One publication , for example, shows that glucose levels are stable for 4 hours afterwards. This should be enough for a corresponding sample transport to the laboratory.

MedLabPortal: Are there any other advantages?

Prof. Nauck: Yes. Many other measurands can be measured from this heparin plasma from the field of clinical chemistry, so that I can do without an additional blood collection vessel for glucose stabilization. This saves time during blood sampling, blood (patient blood management), protects the environment, …

MedLabPortal:… and therefore certainly delights the patients. Prof. Nauck, thank you very much for this short interview.

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“Confidence in the quality of laboratory medical diagnostics in patient care will increase” – MedLabPortal

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Editor: X-Press Journalistenbüro GbR

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