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Updated: Feb 20, 2026

Homogeneous Time-resolved Förster Resonance Energy Transfer-based Assay for Detection of Insulin Secretion
Published on: May 10, 2018
Stability of proinsulin in whole blood
Dominic J Bright1, Gareth J Dunseath1, Rajesh Peter2
1Diabetes Research Unit Cymru, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, Wales, UK.
Abstract:
Proinsulin, the precursor for insulin, is secreted in higher concentrations when β-cells are under stress and previous studies have shown that elevated proinsulin could be used as a marker for individuals in a pre-diabetic state. The aim of this study was to assess the stability of proinsulin across a wide concentration range (3-882 and 2-187pmol/L; total and intact proinsulin respectively) in whole blood to determine whether it could be used in routine clinical care. 51 subjects (26 normal glucose tolerance, 17 impaired glucose tolerance and 8 type 2 diabetes) had blood taken into EDTA tubes at 0, 60 & 120min following a glucose load. The samples were kept at room temperature (~20°C) with aliquots taken, centrifuged and frozen at 0, 24, 48 and 72h. Comparison of the combined data (pre and post-glucose load) of baseline with 72h as a percentage of baseline gave an average of 123% (95% CI: 119-127) and 107% (95% CI: 105-109) for total and intact proinsulin respectively. A small change in the stability of total proinsulin was observed whilst there was no clinical difference over the 72h period for intact proinsulin.
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