Effect of very long-term storage and multiple freeze and thaw cycles on 11-dehydro-thromboxane-B 2 and 8-iso-prostaglandin F 2α, levels in human urine samples by validated enzyme immunoassays

Biological samples are often frozen and stored for years and/or thawed multiple times, thus assessing their stability on long-term storage and repeated freeze–thaw cycles is crucial. The study aims were to assess:—the long-term stability of two major enzymatic and non-enzymatic metabolites of arachidonic acid, i.e. urinary 11-dehydro-thromboxane-(Tx) B 2 , 8-iso-prostaglandin (PG)F 2α , and creatinine in frozen urine samples;—the effect of multiple freeze–thaw cycles. Seven-hundred and three urine samples measured in previously-published studies, stored at −40 °C, and measured for a second time for 11-dehydro-TxB 2 ( n = 677) and/or 8-iso-PGF 2α ( n = 114) and/or creatinine ( n = 610) were stable over 10 years and the 2 measurements were highly correlated (all rho = 0.99, P < 0.0001). Urine samples underwent 10 sequential freeze–thaw cycles, with and without the antioxidant 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-oxyl (10 mM); urinary 11-dehydro-TxB 2 and creatinine were stable across all cycles (11-dehydro-TxB 2 : 100.4 ± 21%; creatinine: 101 ± 7% of baseline at cycle ten; n = 17), while 8-iso-PGF 2α significantly increased by cycle 6 (151 ± 22% of baseline at cycle ten, n = 17, P < 0.05) together with hydrogen peroxide only in the absence of antioxidant. Arachidonic acid metabolites and creatinine appear stable in human urines stored at −40 °C over 10 years. Multiple freeze–thaw cycles increase urinary 8-iso-PGF 2α in urine samples without antioxidants. These data are relevant for studies using urine samples stored over long-term and/or undergoing multiple freezing–thawing.