LacaScore: a novel plasma sample quality control tool based on ascorbic acid and lactic acid levels

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Metabolome analysis faces challenges due to dynamic metabolite changes and pre-analytical variations impacting robustness and reproducibility.
• Ensuring sample integrity is crucial for accurate metabolomics research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of pre-centrifugation time and temperature on plasma sample stability.
• To identify and validate a quality control marker for assessing pre-analytical sample quality in metabolomics.

Main Methods:

• Plasma metabolites were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).
• Labile metabolites were quantified via enzymatic assays to develop a quality control score.
• The LacaScore was calculated based on the ascorbic acid to lactic acid ratio.

Main Results:

• Pre-centrifugation temperature significantly affected metabolite concentrations, highlighting its critical role in sample stability.
• Pre-centrifugation delay showed a minimal impact on metabolite profiles.
• Optimal pre-analytical conditions involve storing whole blood on wet ice and centrifuging within 3 hours for EDTA plasma.

Conclusions:

• A novel quality control marker, LacaScore, was developed using the ascorbic acid/lactic acid ratio.
• LacaScore effectively indicates pre-centrifugation conditions and plasma sample suitability for metabolome analysis.
• This marker is valuable for research institutes and biobanks to ensure plasma sample quality.