Stability of mercury concentrations in frozen avian blood samples

Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 2011 Feb;86(2):159-62. doi: 10.1007/s00128-010-0164-0. Epub 2010 Dec 5.

Abstract

It is unclear whether mercury concentration in wildlife tissues changes appreciably after lengthy frozen storage. To test whether such freezer-archived samples are stable, small (~10-50 μL) avian blood samples stored in capped glass capillary tubes were analyzed for total mercury concentration, and then reanalyzed after being frozen for up to 3 years. Mercury concentrations increased 6% on average over the 3 year period, but time spent frozen explained only 11% of the variation between measurements. This small amount of change suggests that archived blood samples remain useful for at least several years.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Birds / blood*
  • Blood Preservation
  • Environmental Monitoring*
  • Environmental Pollutants / blood*
  • Mercury / blood*

Substances

  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Mercury