Comparison of pre-analytical conditions for quantification of serotonin in platelet-poor plasma

Abstract Background Reported concentrations of serotonin in platelet-poor plasma (PPP) in healthy subjects vary widely due to different pre-analytical procedures. Aim To examine how different pre-analytical conditions affect the measured concentration of serotonin in PPP. Method Six pre-analytical protocols were compared for preparation of PPP from EDTA whole blood for quantification of serotonin from nine healthy individuals. Three combinations of centrifugation with a mild centrifugation of gel-free EDTA tubes followed by a stronger centrifugation were compared to single-stage centrifugation of EDTA tubes with separator gel and heat shock treatment of blood prior to centrifugation. All samples were analysed using the same enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Results Findings show that two consecutive centrifugations; first a mild centrifugation at 100 or 200 x g followed by centrifugation at 4500 or 14500 x g resulted in the lowest serotonin concentration in PPP. Conclusion Two successive centrifugations to produce PPP for serotonin analysis; first a mild centrifugation to avoid mechanical stress on the platelets, and next a stronger centrifugation to remove platelets, is superior to the use of gel tubes and heat shock treatment.