Effects of storage time and temperature after blood sampling from turkeys on plasma concentrations of potassium,...

The objectives of this research were to study the effect of several time intervals of turkey blood storage from sampling to centrifugation on plasma K, Na, and Cl concentrations and to study the effect of ambient temperature of turkey blood storage on these same variables. In the first study, 6 consecutive blood samples were obtained from each turkey. The first sample was centrifuged immediately (control), and each of the others was respectively stored for 20, 40, 60, 120, or 360 min at 22 degrees C before centrifugation and plasma harvest. In the second study, 4 consecutive blood samples were obtained from each turkey. The first sample was centrifuged immediately (control), and each of the others was respectively stored at ambient temperatures of 9, 22, and 30 degrees C for 120 min before centrifugation and plasma harvest. Plasma K concentration declines and is significant (P < 0.01) for each of the 20, 40, 60, 120, and 360 min values. Plasma Na concentration increases and Cl decreases were not significant (P < 0.01) until 360 and 120 min, respectively. Significant (P < 0.01) reductions occurred for plasma K concentration for each of the ambient temperature values but were the least at 9 degrees C and greatest when stored at 30 degrees C. Plasma Na concentration decreased (P < 0.01) when stored at 9 degrees C. Though increased (P < 0.01) when stored at 22 and 30 degrees C, the difference was not significant (P < 0.01) between samples stored at either 22 or 30 degrees C. Plasma Cl concentration was decreased (P < 0.01) from control values, but there was no significant difference (P < 0.01) among samples stored at 9, 22, and 30 degrees C. Clot formation and its retraction from serum are unduly delayed after blood is withdrawn from turkeys because birds lack the intrinsic mechanism for blood coagulation. Accordingly, serum is not appropriate for the determination of K concentration in turkeys, and plasma harvested immediately after blood sampling is the fluid of choice for K analysis.