Effect of Sample Time in Clot Tube, Temperature, and Hemolysis Status on Canine Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Concentrations: Preliminary study

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin which promotes a variety of neural processes ranging from neuronal health to the survival in the peripheral and central nervous systems. There is interest in serum BDNF as a potential biomarker of anxiety disorders in pet dogs for veterinary and comparative behavior research. As an initial step in applying BDNF in canine research, work was performed to determine appropriate sample conditions for BDNF analyses. Objectives of this study was to determine the effects of blood storage time in clot tube, temperature, and hemolysis on measured BDNF concentrations in dog serum. Blood was collected from dogs (n=11) with no evidence of behavioral or neurological conditions, and BDNF serum concentrations measured by ELISA. The following conditions were evaluated for effects on BDNF serum concentrations: time of blood in clot tube (time from placing blood in clot tube until centrifugation/serum collection, 30 minutes, 2 hours, 24 hours), temperature (4oC, 25 oC) and extent of hemolysis (non, moderate, marked). BDNF concentrations were not affected by time in clot tube, temperature, or sample hemolysis. In conclusions, this study demonstrates the sampling conditions that can be used when measuring BDNF concentrations in dogs, and expands the clinical settings for use of this test. Effect of Sample Time in Clot Tube, Temperature, and Hemolysis Status on Canine Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Concentrations: Preliminary study