Do serum samples need to be inactivated before testing?
Whether inactivation is necessary depends on the following factors:
1. Whether the sample may contain high-risk pathogens
If the sample is collected from patients suspected or confirmed to have infectious diseases (such as COVID-19, HBV, HCV, HIV, etc.), it is recommended to perform viral inactivation to ensure biosafety during transportation and subsequent operations.
2. Whether the test items allow inactivation
(1) For proteomics, metabolomics, immunoassays (such as ELISA, Western Blot), etc., it is necessary to confirm whether inactivation affects the stability of target substances or the test results.
(2) Heat inactivation (e.g., 56°C for 30 minutes) significantly disrupts protein structure and enzyme activity, and is not recommended for the detection of proteins, enzymes, or certain metabolites.
(3) Organic solvent inactivation (e.g., adding an equal volume of methanol) is suitable for metabolomics projects where subsequent protein precipitation is required.
3. Requirements of the receiving laboratory
(1) Some institutions explicitly require samples to be inactivated before submission to meet biosafety level requirements.
(2) Other institutions require 'untreated original serum' to preserve the integrity of the test.
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