Evaluation of the performance of analytical methods for extracellular redox state in human serum

Abstract

Introduction: The evaluation of redox state in biological fluids is of great importance in the field of medicine, if it is considered the demonstrated relationship of oxidative stress with multiple pathophysiological processes. There are methods to assess extracellular redox state, but compliance with their quality criteria has not been shown in the Cuban context.

Objective: Assess the performance of the analytical methods used as a measure of extracellular redox status in human serum for efficient use in future studies.

Methods: Based on a cross-sectional analytical study conducted at the Basic Sciences Laboratory of the University of Medical Sciences of Santiago de Cuba, the methods used for the evaluation of extracellular redox state in blood serum were validated through values of accuracy, specificity, linearity and precision (repeatability and intermediate precision).

Results: The assessment of the different analytical methods showed their high specificity, and also quantifiable values only in samples corresponding to the evaluated analytes. The calibration curves for malonldialdehyde and reduced glutathione were found to be linear with correlation coefficients ≥ 0.995. The variation coefficients of the repeatability studies were under the 3%, while in the intermediate accuracy analyses the ANOVA indicated non-significant differences between the measurements.

Conclusions: The standardization of the analytical methods used as a measure of the extracellular redox state in human serum from the use of quality evaluation parameters demonstrate, by the characteristics of their performance, that they meet the requirements for their application in medical practice and biomedical research.