Sterile Corvac silicone gel tubes: efficacy and storage capabilities.

The storage capability of the sterile Corvac silicone gel tube as a specimen collection device is evaluated. Sera collected and stored in sterile Corvac silicone gel tubes were compared with control specimens collected in regular Monoject tubes and transferred to new Monoject tubes for storage. Sera for the efficacy tests were transferred from both the gel tube and the control tube without concern for storage. Sixty-seven analytes were compared, 20 of which were included in the storage portion. Only glucose, potassium, carbon dioxide, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, and lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH) were statistically different in the storage experiment and amylase, T-3 uptake, folates, HDL, and again LDH by another method, were statistically different in the efficacy experiment. These evaluations determine the validity of storing specimens in this manner for reanalysis or additional analyses.