The effect on creatinine kinase activity of freezing plasma from healthy foals

Abstract

AIM: To assess the stability of creatine kinase (CK) activity in plasma collected from healthy foals and frozen at −20°C for up to 12 weeks.

METHODS: Samples of venous blood drawn from 25 foals were analysed for CK activity soon after collection, and again after 1 and 12 weeks of freezing at −20°C.

RESULTS: CK activity decreased (p<0.001) between Week 0 and Week 1 and between Week 0 and Week 12.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Decreases in CK activity were statistically significant but clinically insignificant.

KEY WORDS:

• Creatine kinase
• freezing
• foal

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge funding support from the New Zealand Equine Research Foundation, and the assistance of Ms Roz Power in sample analysis.

Notes

¹ EC Firth, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerson North, New Zealand