Stability of glucose in blood collected with or without antiglycolytic agent

Glycolysis in blood samples is well-known to induce a rapid decrease of glucose concentration and the use of an antiglycolysis is supposed to prevent this phenomenon. Fifteen healthy volunteers were included in this study. The aim was to evaluate the stability of glucose concentration in regard to the type of blood collection tube used (with or without antiglycolytic agent (monoiodoacetate)) and the time before centrifugation. During the first two hours, a similar decrease was observed with both kind of tube (about 9% in two hours), then the effect of the antiglycolytic agent became significant. It is re-emphasised that glycolysis inhibitor should be used for glucose determination, especially when centrifugation is delayed.