Pre-analytical challenges from adsorptive losses associated with thiamine analysis

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Thiamine (vitamin B1) is crucial for metabolic pathways, acting as a cofactor in its diphosphate form.
• Low concentrations of thiamine in clinical and environmental samples necessitate careful pre-analytical processing.
• Ubiquitous use of glass materials in labs may impact thiamine recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of pre-analytical processing materials on thiamine recovery.
• To identify specific materials causing thiamine loss.
• To recommend alternative materials for accurate thiamine analysis.

Main Methods:

• Assessing thiamine recovery from standards after storage in glass vs. polypropylene vials.
• Evaluating thiamine filtrate concentrations after passing through glass fiber filters.
• Analyzing the distribution of thiamine and its phosphorylated derivatives in different storage containers.

Main Results:

• Significant thiamine loss observed with glass fiber filters and glass vials.
• Storage in glass vials led to a 54% reduction in thiamine peak area compared to polypropylene.
• Polymeric filters (nylon, cellulose acetate) and containers (polycarbonate, polypropylene) showed minimal thiamine loss.

Conclusions:

• Glass materials (filters, vials) significantly deplete thiamine concentrations during sample preparation.
• Polymeric materials are recommended for filters and sample storage to ensure accurate thiamine quantification.
• Careful selection of pre-analytical materials is vital for reliable thiamine analysis, especially at low concentrations.