Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 18, 2026
Measuring Granulocyte and Monocyte Phagocytosis and Oxidative Burst Activity in Human Blood
Published on: September 12, 2016
Hemolysis indexes for biochemical tests and immunoassays on Roche analyzers: determination of allowable interference
Denis Monneret1, Fouzi Mestari, Gregory Atlan
1Department of Metabolic Biochemistry, La Pitié Salpêtrière-Charles Foix University Hospital (AP-HP) , Paris.
Objectives:
To determine the hemolysis interference on biochemical tests and immunoassays performed on Roche Diagnostics analyzers, according to different maximum allowable limits.
Design And Methods:
Heparinized plasma and serum pools, free of interferences, were overloaded by increasing amounts of a hemoglobin-titrated hemolysate. This interference was evaluated for 45 analytes using Modular(®) and Cobas(®) analyzers. For each parameter, the hemolysis index (HI) corresponding to the traditional ± 10% change of concentrations from baseline (± 10%Δ) was determined, as well as those corresponding to the analytical change limit (ACL), and to the reference change value (RCV). Then, the relative frequencies distribution (% RFD) of hemolyzed tests performed in a hospital laboratory over a 25-day period were established for each HI as allowable limit.
Results:
Considering the ± 10%Δ, the analyte concentrations enhanced by hemolysis were: Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), folate, potassium, creatine kinase, phosphorus, iron, alanine aminotransferase, lipase, magnesium and triglycerides, decreasingly. The analyte concentrations decreased by hemolysis were: Haptoglobin, high-sensitive troponin T and alkaline phosphatase. Over the 25-day period, the % RFD of tests impacted more than 10%Δ by hemolysis were < 7% for LDH; < 5% for AST, folates and iron; and < 1% for the other analytes. Considering the ACL, HI were lower, giving % RFD substantially increased for many analytes, whereas only four analytes remain sensitive to hemolysis when considering RCV.
Conclusion:
This study proposes new HI based on different allowable limits, and can therefore serve as a starting point for future harmonization of hemolysis interference evaluation needed in routine laboratory practice.
