Stability of total proteins and their electrophoretic fractions in goat serum (Capra hircus), maintained under different condition

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of different storage time and temperature conditions on the concentration of serum total proteins and their electrophoretic fractions in goats. Blood samples were collected from 12 female of Girgentana goats and the obtained serum was divided into 4 aliquots. The first aliquot was analyzed immediately after separation (T-0); the second was refrigerated at 4 degrees C and analyzed after 24 (T-1), 48 (T-2), and 72 (T-3) hours; the third was stored at -20 degrees C immediately after centrifugation and analyzed after 2 days (T-4); and the last aliquot was stored at -20 degrees C after 24h refrigeration and analyzed after 1 week (T-5). The serum total proteins, serum protein electrophoretic fractions (albumin, alpha-, beta 1-, beta 2- and gamma-globulins) and albumin/globulin ratio (A/G) values were determined. A significant effect of storage conditions on serum total proteins, albumin, alpha 1-, beta 2- and gamma-globulins values was found (P<0.05). The concentration of serum total proteins was significantly higher at T-1 and T-4 than T-0. Albumin showed higher concentrations at T-1, T-2, T-3, T-4 and T-5 in respect to the values measured at To. The concentration of alpha 1-globulins was significantly higher at T-4 than T0; the beta(2)-globulins values were lower at T-3 and T-5 respect to T-0, whereas the gamma-globulins values were lower at T-5 than T-0. Together these results showed that temperature and time of serum storage are important pre-analytical factors which affect concentrations of serum total proteins and their electrophoretic fractions in electrophoretic analysis. The results of present study suggest that fresh serum samples or samples refrigerated for 24h are recommended for electrophoretic analysis to obtain accurate data, which can help clinicians to differentiate between sick and healthy animals. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.