Serum and Plasma Samples for ACS:Systems Cardiac Markers

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Abstract
The ACS:180® immunoassay system (Bayer Diagnostics) is an automated random analyzer that uses acridinium ester-based chemiluminescence detection. The architecture of the cardiac marker assays is a heterologous sandwich format, using monoclonal anti-marker antibody immobilized onto paramagnetic particles (capture) and polyclonal goat anti-human myoglobin, creatine kinase MB isoenzyme (CK-MB), or cardiac troponin I (cTnI) antibody labeled with acridinium ester (detector). Its processing time (∼20 min if the analyzer is in standby mode) and precision (overall CV <5%) make the system suitable for emergency use (1). However, optimal performance of an assay system for cardiac markers depends not only on the instrument’s analysis time, but also on factors that affect the overall turnaround time, including the preanalytical steps necessary to prepare the sample (2). The use of plasma samples eliminates the extra time needed for clotting, thereby reducing the overall preanalytical time, but there can be significant differences between serum and plasma concentrations of cardiac markers (3). The aim of this study was to validate the possible use of two different anticoagulants (lithium heparinate and EDTA, tripotassium salt) for cardiac marker determinations on the ACS:180 immunoassay system.