Sex steroid hormone stability in serum tubes with and without separator gels.

Background: A pilot study showing a decrease in androstenedione concentration in serum collected into gel-containing serum tubes (STs) triggered an investigation of the effect of serum collection tube on steroid hormone stability.

Methods: In the main study, two tube types were examined: BD Vacutainer® SST™II Advance and BD Vacutainer® Serum Tube. Forty-seven serum samples from apparently healthy volunteers were collected and analysed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for testosterone, androstenedione, 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) (n=20); and oestradiol (n=27).