Detecting Pre-Analytically Delayed Blood Samples for Laboratory Diagnostics Using Raman Spectroscopy.

Journal: International journal of molecular sciences
Published Date:

Abstract

In this proof-of-principle study, we systematically studied the potential of Raman spectroscopy for detecting pre-analytical delays in blood serum samples. Spectra from 330 samples from a liver cirrhosis cohort were acquired over the course of eight days, stored one day at room temperature, and stored subsequently at 4 °C. The spectra were then used to train Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) to predict the delay to sample examination. We achieved 90% accuracy for binary classification of the serum samples in the groups "without delay" versus "delayed". Spectra recorded on the first day could be distinguished clearly from all subsequent measurements. Distinguishing between spectra taken in the range from the second to the last day seems to be possible as well, but currently, with an accuracy of approximately 70% only. Importantly, filtering out the fluorescent background significantly reduces the precision of detection.

Authors

  • Pascal Hunold
    Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, University Hospital Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
  • Markus Fischer
    Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, Leipzig University, Härtelstr. 16-18, D-04107 Leipzig, Germany. Electronic address: markus.fischer@medizin.uni-leipzig.de.
  • Carsten Olthoff
    Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, University Hospital Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
  • Peter W Hildebrand
    Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, Leipzig University, 04107 Leipzig, Germany.
  • Thorsten Kaiser
    Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, University Hospital Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
  • René Staritzbichler
    Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, Leipzig University, 04107 Leipzig, Germany.