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

Objective: To evaluate interference by the hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier Hemospan^® on clinical laboratory assays. Design and methods: Interfering Hemospan concentrations were determined for general chemistry and cardiac marker analytes in pooled serum and the corresponding hemolysis index was calculated. Results: Hemospan 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. Conclusions: We 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.