Hemolysis interference in measuring fish plasma biochemical indicators

Area of Science:

• Aquatic toxicology
• Veterinary clinical pathology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Hemolysis, the rupture of red blood cells, is a common issue in biological sample collection.
• Interference from hemolysis can lead to inaccurate measurements of plasma biochemical parameters.
• Understanding these interferences is crucial for reliable diagnostics in fish species.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the impact of varying degrees of hemolysis on multiple plasma biochemical parameters in Huso huso.
• To assess the reliability of common biochemical assays when performed on hemolyzed fish plasma.
• To provide insights into the interpretation of clinical chemistry results from compromised samples.

Main Methods:

• Blood samples from 24 Huso huso juveniles were collected and centrifuged to obtain plasma.
• Controlled hemolysis was induced by adding 0% to 20% whole blood to plasma aliquots.
• Key biochemical parameters including albumin, total protein, electrolytes, and enzymes were measured across hemolysis levels.

Main Results:

• Significant increases were observed in albumin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), potassium, and aspartate transaminase (AST) with increasing hemolysis.
• Total protein and phosphorus also showed marked elevations, while glucose, calcium, chloride, and alanine transaminase (ALT) exhibited smaller but significant increases.
• Plasma sodium levels remained unaffected by hemolysis in this study.

Conclusions:

• Hemolysis substantially interferes with the accurate measurement of most plasma biochemical parameters in Huso huso.
• Results from hemolyzed samples require cautious interpretation, and analysis should ideally be avoided.
• Further research is recommended to develop correction methods for hemolysis-induced alterations in fish plasma analysis.