Abstract:
This is a descriptive study conducted at Khartoum state during the
period from January to June 2009. The objective of this study is to
determine the effect of delayed blood separation on plasma potassium and
plasma sodium level, measured by flame emission photometer.
In this study 100 blood samples were tested for potassium and
sodium level at different time intervals after collection. The study approved
that potassium level decreased after delayed separation up to 6 hours and
increased between 6-24 hours when blood samples were kept at temperature
(30oC). The mean decrease in plasma potassium was 0.24 mmol/L after
2hours, 0.28 mmol/L after 4 hours and 0.33 mmol/L after 6 hours. The
mean increase was (-0.36 mmol/L after 8 hours and (-2.0) mmol/L after 24
hours as compare with zero time result.
The results showed that sodium level clinically was not affected
after delayed separation when blood was kept at temperature (30oC). The
mean sodium level was (-0.09 mmol/L) after 2 hours, -0.09 mmol/L after 4
hours, -0.35 mmol/L after 6 hours, 0.22 mmol/L after 8ours and 1.17
mmol/L after 24 hours as compared with zero time results.
Furthermore the results showed that there was statistically significant
difference in plasma potassium level between the results obtained
immediately after sample collection (zero time) and the results obtained
after all intervals of times (P<0.05), there was non significant difference in
the plasma sodium level between results obtained after 2 hours, 4 hours and
8 hours (P<0.05) and there was a significant difference in plasma sodium
level between results obtained after 6 hours immediately (zero time) and
results obtained after 6 hours and 24 hours, but they are Clinically not
significant (P<0.05).