Interference in clinical chemistry assays by the hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier, Hemospan®

ObjectiveTo evaluate interference by the hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier Hemospan® on clinical laboratory assays.Design and methodsInterfering Hemospan concentrations were determined for general chemistry and cardiac marker analytes in pooled serum and the corresponding hemolysis index was calculated.ResultsHemospan did not interfere with 20 of 35 analytes. Hemospan produced a negative interference in serum creatinine, amylase, alkaline phosphatase, uric acid, and GGT assays and a positive interference in serum phosphate, LDH, iron, triglycerides, total protein, AST, cholesterol, magnesium, and albumin assays, and appeared to positively bias the serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) assay only when cTnI is present in the sample.ConclusionsWe present a report of assays affected by Hemospan and the threshold concentrations for interference. This study highlights the importance of interference studies in understanding the effects of hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers on results reported by the clinical laboratory.