Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Membrane Fluidity01:23

Membrane Fluidity

Cell membranes are composed of phospholipids, proteins, and carbohydrates loosely attached to one another through chemical interactions. Molecules are generally able to move about in the plane of the membrane, giving the membrane its flexible nature called fluidity. Two other features of the membrane contribute to membrane fluidity: the chemical structure of the phospholipids and the presence of cholesterol in the membrane.
Factors Influencing Microbial Growth: Temperature01:27

Factors Influencing Microbial Growth: Temperature

Microorganisms display remarkable adaptations, enabling them to thrive in diverse ecological niches across a wide range of temperatures. Temperature profoundly influences microbial growth by affecting enzymatic activity, membrane fluidity, and other cellular processes.Each microorganism operates within a specific temperature range defined by three cardinal points: minimum, optimum, and maximum. Below the minimum temperature, membranes lose fluidity, halting transport processes. Above the...
Freezing Point Depression and Boiling Point Elevation03:12

Freezing Point Depression and Boiling Point Elevation

Boiling Point Elevation
The boiling point of a liquid is the temperature at which its vapor pressure is equal to ambient atmospheric pressure. Since the vapor pressure of a solution is lowered due to the presence of nonvolatile solutes, it stands to reason that the solution’s boiling point will subsequently be increased. Vapor pressure increases with temperature, and so a solution will require a higher temperature than will pure solvent to achieve any given vapor pressure, including one...
Decreased Body Temperature01:29

Decreased Body Temperature

A decreased body temperature can occur in patients with hypothermia and frostbite. Heat loss with extended cold exposure overpowers the body's ability to create heat, resulting in hypothermia. Core temperature readings help classify hypothermia. Mild hypothermia is temperatures between 32 °C (89.6 °F) and 35°C (95 °F) and is caused by impaired thermoregulation. Moderate hypothermia is temperatures between 28 C (82.4 °F) and 32 °C (89.6 °F) caused by sustained extreme cold exposure, and severe...
Cryo-electron Microscopy01:28

Cryo-electron Microscopy

Conventional electron microscopy (EM) involves dehydration, fixation, and staining of biological samples, which distorts the native state of biological molecules and results in several artifacts. Also, the high-energy electron beam damages the sample and makes it difficult to obtain high-resolution images. These issues can be addressed using cryo-EM, which uses frozen samples and gentler electron beams. The technique was developed by Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank, and Richard Henderson, for...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Whole blood long-chain n-3 fatty acids as a measure of fish oil compliance in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a pilot study.

Prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and essential fatty acids·2022
Same author

Correlates of whole-blood polyunsaturated fatty acids among young children with moderate acute malnutrition.

Nutrition journal·2017
Same author

Dynamic interactions of n-3 and n-6 fatty acid nutrients.

Prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and essential fatty acids·2017
Same author

Maternal fish oil supplementation during lactation is associated with reduced height at 13 years of age and higher blood pressure in boys only.

The British journal of nutrition·2017
Same author

Effect of storage temperature in a Cambodian field setting on the fatty acid composition in whole blood.

Prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and essential fatty acids·2015
Same author

Four weeks supplementation with Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei L. casei W8® shows modest effect on triacylglycerol in young healthy adults.

Beneficial microbes·2014

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 8, 2026

An Ex vivo Model to Study Hormone Action in the Human Breast
12:31

An Ex vivo Model to Study Hormone Action in the Human Breast

Published on: January 8, 2015

EPA and DHA levels in whole blood decrease more rapidly when stored at -20 °C as compared with room temperature, 4

A H Metherel1, J J Aristizabal Henao, K D Stark

  • 1Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada.

Lipids
|August 17, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Storing fingertip prick (FTP) and venous whole blood for n-3 fatty acid analysis requires careful temperature control. Optimal storage is at -75°C, but 4°C or room temperature with BHT are viable alternatives to -20°C.

More Related Videos

Dried Blood Spots - Preparing and Processing for Use in Immunoassays and in Molecular Techniques
11:28

Dried Blood Spots - Preparing and Processing for Use in Immunoassays and in Molecular Techniques

Published on: March 13, 2015

Modifying Levels of Maternal Dietary Folic Acid or Choline to Study the Impact of Deficiencies on Offspring Health Outcomes
03:19

Modifying Levels of Maternal Dietary Folic Acid or Choline to Study the Impact of Deficiencies on Offspring Health Outcomes

Published on: June 28, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 8, 2026

An Ex vivo Model to Study Hormone Action in the Human Breast
12:31

An Ex vivo Model to Study Hormone Action in the Human Breast

Published on: January 8, 2015

Dried Blood Spots - Preparing and Processing for Use in Immunoassays and in Molecular Techniques
11:28

Dried Blood Spots - Preparing and Processing for Use in Immunoassays and in Molecular Techniques

Published on: March 13, 2015

Modifying Levels of Maternal Dietary Folic Acid or Choline to Study the Impact of Deficiencies on Offspring Health Outcomes
03:19

Modifying Levels of Maternal Dietary Folic Acid or Choline to Study the Impact of Deficiencies on Offspring Health Outcomes

Published on: June 28, 2024

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Nutritional Science
  • Analytical Chemistry

Background:

  • High-throughput analysis of n-3 fatty acids from venous and fingertip prick (FTP) samples increases storage demands.
  • Highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) in erythrocytes are prone to oxidation, a phenomenon not well-characterized in whole blood samples.
  • Understanding optimal storage conditions is crucial for accurate fatty acid profiling.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the stability of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in whole blood under various storage conditions.
  • To compare the effectiveness of different storage media (chromatography paper, cryovials) and additives (BHT, heparin) on fatty acid preservation.
  • To determine the best storage temperatures and methods for preserving n-3 HUFA in blood samples for up to 180 days.

Main Methods:

  • Whole blood samples (low and high n-3 content) collected in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) were stored on chromatography paper with and without BHT at various temperatures (room, 4, -20, -75°C).
  • Whole blood treated with heparin and BHT was stored in cryovials and examined.
  • EPA and DHA levels were quantified over 180 days to assess stability.

Main Results:

  • EPA + DHA were most stable at -75°C but rapidly decreased at -20°C.
  • BHT + heparin in cryovials prevented decreases at -20°C for 180 days; BHT alone on paper only slowed degradation.
  • Surprisingly, storage at 4°C and room temperature showed less EPA + DHA decrease than at -20°C.
  • The percentage of n-3 HUFA relative to total HUFA was more stable than the absolute percentage of EPA + DHA.

Conclusions:

  • For accurate fatty acid analysis, store FTP and venous whole blood at -75°C whenever feasible.
  • If -75°C storage is unavailable, adding BHT is recommended, with 4°C or room temperature being preferable to -20°C.
  • The relative % n-3 HUFA metric offers greater stability than absolute EPA + DHA percentages for biomarker assessment.