Impact of Sample Storage Time on Biomarker Discovery
Author Information
Author(s): Karl G Kugler, Wern O Hackl, Laurin AJ Mueller, Heidi Fiegl, Armin Graber, Ruth M Pfeiffer
Primary Institution: Institute for Bioinformatics and Translational Research, University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology
Hypothesis
How does the storage time of serum samples affect the accuracy of biomarker association estimates in case-control studies?
Conclusion
Storage time can significantly bias estimates of association between biomarkers and disease outcomes.
Supporting Evidence
- Levels of two serum markers increased by 15% after ten years in storage.
- Odds ratios of association were significantly underestimated with a relative bias of -10% for increased marker levels.
- Decreased marker levels led to overestimation of odds ratios with a relative bias of 20%.
Takeaway
If you keep blood samples for a long time, the levels of important markers can change, which might make it look like they are more or less related to diseases than they really are.
Methodology
The study used laboratory experiments and simulations to assess how storage time affects biomarker levels and their association with disease outcomes.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to changes in marker levels over time could lead to incorrect conclusions about their association with disease.
Limitations
The study was based on a small sample size and may not generalize to all biomarkers or storage conditions.
Participant Demographics
Serum samples were collected from women diagnosed with breast cancer at the Medical University of Innsbruck between 1994 and 2010.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.05
Confidence Interval
null
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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