A review of sample handling considerations for reproductive and thyroid hormone measurement in serum or plasma

Inappropriate sample handling of blood, serum or plasma collected for the determination of hormone concentration may lead to inaccurate endocrine data and diagnoses. Many useful studies have been conducted to determine the potential effects of sample handling on measured hormone concentration. Unfortunately, because reported results frequently differ according to assay method, species studied and parameters measured, it is not always possible to predict the effect of specific sample handling scenarios as they are presented in practice. The objective of this review is to provide a summary of what has been reported in the literature regarding sample-handling procedures that may affect the measurement of hormone concentration in plasma or sera from animals being evaluated for reproductive function.