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Time- and temperature-dependent Pentraxin 3 stability in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples

Summary

Pentraxin 3 is a protein marker that helps doctors detect serious fungal infections. This study tested how well this marker stays stable in blood and lung fluid samples when stored at different temperatures over long periods. The results show that samples should be kept frozen at −20°C or −80°C to preserve the marker, but samples left at room temperature or warmer are quickly damaged and unreliable for testing.

Background

Pentraxin 3 (Ptx3) is an acute-phase protein that targets fungal galactosaminogalactan and has been proposed as a biomarker for invasive fungal infections. However, its stability in clinical samples over time and under varying storage conditions has not been well established, which is critical for reliable clinical and research use.

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the stability of Ptx3 in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples during mid- and long-term storage at different temperatures to determine optimal sample handling and storage conditions.

Results

Ptx3 remained highly stable in serum and BALF samples for up to 8 months at −20°C with variations of −1.8% to +2.8%, and at −80°C for 48 months with stability maintained up to 53 months. In contrast, storage at +37°C resulted in rapid degradation with 36.5%–60.7% increase in serum and 92.9%–97% decrease in BALF samples.

Conclusion

Ptx3 is a stable and reliable biomarker for invasive fungal infections when stored at −80°C or −20°C for appropriate durations. Samples should not be stored at room temperature or elevated temperatures (37°C) as degradation occurs rapidly, affecting the accuracy of clinical measurements.
  • Published in:Medical Mycology,
  • Study Type:Prospective and Retrospective Cohort Study,
  • Source: 10.1093/mmy/myaf057, PMID: 40576635
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