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:
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