The Rate of Glucose Uptake by the Cells: A Comparative Study Using Different Anticoagulants

Background: Glucose is an important metabolic substrate in the mammalian cells, used as the body’s primary source of energy. High level of plasma glucose may present with deleterious effects on several cells/tissues of the body.

Aim: The study investigated the effect of different anticoagulants and plain container in the rate of glucose uptake by cells.

Methods: Sixty-two diabetes, comprising of twenty-six males and thirty-six females attending clinic in the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State were recruited, and their blood samples were collected and analyzed using glucose oxidase peroxidase method, three hours thirteen minutes (3hrs:13minutes) after collection of the samples; and subsequently, repeat assays were done periodically at an interval of one hour (60minutes) for six hours (6hrs) consecutively. The data was analysed statistically and expressed as mean and standard deviation.

Results: The results demonstrated that the rate at which the blood glucose level decreased with time varied with different anticoagulants. It was observed that blood glucose in sodium fluoride oxalate, Lithium heparin, Tri-potassium ethylene Diamine-tetraacetic acid and plain containers decreased at a mean value of 0.07mmol/l, 0.12mmol/l, 0.18mmol/l and 0.35mmol/l every 60 minutes respectively. The study also showed that irrespective of the anticoagulants used, blood glucose significantly (P<0.05) decreased steadily showing that the concentration of blood glucose remained unstable in-vitro. Nevertheless, the rate of decrease in blood glucose in-vitro appeared to be independent in the gender (males/female).

Conclusion: From the results obtained from this study, sodium fluoride oxalate is the most appropriate anticoagulant for blood glucose estimation.