Comparison of Vacusera blood collection tubes with BD and Greiner tubes for routine biochemical parameters

INTRODUCTION: Preanalytical factors, including the choice of blood collection tubes, are a major source of laboratory errors and can affect patient care. Therefore, local verification of newly introduced tubes is essential for quality assurance and accreditation. This study aimed to evaluate the analytical comparability and clinical acceptability of Vacusera CAT Serum tubes versus established BD Vacutainer SST and Greiner Vacuette serum tubes for routine biochemistry.
METHODS: In March 2025, venous blood was collected by a single phlebotomist from 42 adults. Fifteen analytes [glucose, urea, total protein, albumin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase (CK), C-reactive protein, calcium (Ca), phosphorus, magnesium (Mg), and uric acid by photometry; sodium (Na), potassium (K), and chloride (Cl) by indirect ion-selective electrode] were measured within the same analytical run on a Mindray BS2000M.
RESULTS: Compared with BD tubes, Vacusera showed statistically significant differences for AST (p=0.046), CK (p=0.001), Na (p<0.001), Cl (p<0.001), Ca (p=0.024), and Mg (p<0.001); compared with Greiner tubes, differences were observed for K (p=0.019) and Mg (p=0.002). Nevertheless, all analytes, except Na and Cl, fulfilled the biological variation-derived total allowable error specifications. Deming regression indicated no statistically significant constant or proportional systematic error [intercept confidence intervals (CIs) including 0; slope CIs including 1]. At predefined medical decision limits, differences between Vacusera and BD or Greiner tubes were within the reference change value limits, supporting clinically acceptable agreement.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Despite statistically significant differences in some analytes, Vacusera CAT Serum tubes provided clinically acceptable results comparable to those obtained with BD and Greiner tubes for the tested routine biochemical parameters.

Keywords: Biochemical analytes, blood collection, clinical significance, preanalytical errors, serum separator tube, total analytical error