Influence of short-term storage on electrophoretic profile of bovine serum proteins

Storage represents a basic step of the pre-analytical phase for the accuracy of screening tests both in human and veterinary diagnostic laboratories. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of short-term storage on electrophoretic profile of serum proteins in dairy cows. Blood was collected from 18 clinically healthy cows and serum was divided into four aliquots. The first aliquot was immediately analysed (time 0). The second and the third aliquots were stored at +4°C for 24 and 48 h, respectively. The fourth aliquot was frozen at -20° C for 48 hours. A statistical analysis was performed on the obtained data. Albumin and α-globulins relative concentration and A/G ratio showed significant changes after 48 h storage. The results obtained in the current study showed that short-term storage influenced electrophoretic pattern of bovine serum proteins and the A/G ratio. Therefore, the refrigeration of bovine sera for 24 h at the most should be suggested to practitioners in order to obtain reliable serum protein concentrations as useful screening test in veterinary diagnostic laboratory.