Sodium iodoacetate as an antiglycolytic agent in blood samples

We evaluated the effect of sodium iodoacetate on glycolysis in a series of randomly selected blood samples from patients. Glucose values for serum and for serum with added sodium fluoride (2.5 g/liter) or sodium iodoacetate (2 g and 0.5 g/liter) were compared at room temperature. Respective declines in glucose values averaged 170, 40, 30, and 30 mg/liter after 24 h. Iodoacetate-preserved (0.5 g/liter) samples showed no visible hemolysis. Results of determinations of urea with urease and of other tests on SMA 12/60 (Technicon) panels were unaffected.