Effect of storage temperature and incubation period length on complete blood count test of Sudanese workers at Giad Specialized Hospital

Abstract

This is an experimental study, conducted at Giad Specialized Hospital during a period of time from April to August 2013 . Fifty blood samples were taken from apparently healthy workers at Giad Specialized Hospital. The initial environmental temperature was determined using a mercury thermometer .Five ml was collected from each participant, then divided into two EDTA containers, 2.5ml for each container. CBC test was carried out immediately after collection at initial environmental temperature ranged between (22 0 c to 25 0 c). The two containers of each blood sample were stored at either 37 0 c or 40 0 c for 24 hours in a waterbath, then CBC test was performed and the hematological parameters were determined. The results showed that, most of hematological parameters decreased with storage at 37 0 c and 40 0 c compared to initial values. MCV increased significantly (88.82 fl ± 6.875) ( p-value < 0.05), and (96.38 fl ± 7.17) (p-value =0.000) , when stored at 37 0 c and 40 0 c respectively, compared to (77.28 fl± 6.06) at initial environmental temperature. HCT and MCH also significantly increased ( p-value < 0.05) when stored at 37 0 c and 40 0 c for 24 hours.MCHC significantly decreased at both storage temperature. RBCs and platelets count showed insignificant decrease when stored at 37 0 c but decreased significantly at 40 0c for 24 hours ( p-value= 0.02 and 0.04, respectively ) . WBCs and Hb were insignificantly decreased when stored at either 37 0 c or 40 0 c for 24 hours. According to the results of the present study, it is important to measure complete blood count test immediately after collection.