Preparation of blood samples for detecting homocysteine and/or folate

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and blood-withdrawal vessel for preparing blood samples for detecting homocysteine and/or total folate and is characterized in that the blood sample is brought into contact with (a) at least one reagent for lysis of the blood cells, (b) at least one inhibitor of the enzymes which produce and break down homocysteine, and optionally, (c) at least one acid.

1 . A method of preparing blood samples for detecting homocysteine and/or total folate, wherein the blood sample is brought into contact, during or immediately after blood withdrawal, with 
 a) at least one reagent for lysis of the blood cells and    b) at least one inhibitor of the enzymes which produce and break down homocysteine.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the blood sample is further brought into contact, during or immediately after blood withdrawal, with c) one or more acids.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the reagent for lysis of the blood cells a) is an octyl phenol ethylene oxide condensate having on average 9 mol ethylene oxide per mol phenol.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to at least one of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein EDTA is used as an inhibitor of the enzymes b) which produce and break down homocysteine.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to at least one of  claims 1  to  4 , wherein citric acid is used as an acid c).  
     
     
         6 . A blood-withdrawal vessel for preparing blood samples, said blood-withdrawal vessel comprising 
 a) at least one reagent for lysis of the blood cells and    b) at least one inhibitor of the enzymes which produce and break down homocysteine.    
     
     
         7 . A blood-withdrawal vessel according to  claim 6 , said blood-withdrawal vessel further comprising 
 c) one or more acids.    
     
     
         8 . A blood-withdrawal vessel according to  claim 6  or  7 , wherein the reagent for lysis of the blood cells a) is an octyl phenol ethylene oxide condensate having on average 9 mol ethylene oxide per mol phenol.  
     
     
         9 . A blood-withdrawal vessel according to at least one of  claims 6  to  8 , wherein EDTA is used as an inhibitor of the enzymes b) which produce and break down homocysteine.  
     
     
         10 . A blood-withdrawal vessel according to at least one of  claims 6  to  9 , wherein citric acid is used as acid c).  
     
     
         11 . A blood-withdrawal vessel according to at least one of  claims 6  to  10 , in which an octyl phenol ethylene oxide condensate having on average 9 mol ethylene oxide per mol phenol, EDTA and citric acid are charged.  
     
     
         12 . A blood-withdrawal vessel according to  claim 1 , wherein octyl phenol ethylene oxide condensate having on average 9 mol ethylene oxide per mol phenol is charged in undiluted form and EDTA and citric acid are charged in the form of highly concentrated aqueous solutions.  
     
     
         13 . A use of a blood-withdrawal vessel according to at least one of  claims 6  to  12  for the preparation of whole blood or detecting homocysteine and/or total folate. [Bildzuschriften](Figur  1 =) FIG. 1 (Std.=) Hours (Figur  2 =) FIG. 2 (c(HCy) im lysierten . . . =) c(HCy) in lysed blood at RT (Std.=) Hours (Figur  3 =) FIG. 3 (Homocystein im Lysat=) Homocysteine in the lysate [μmol/l]](Homocystein im Plasma=) Homocysteine in the plasma [μmol/l]