Effect of hemolysis on the apparent concentration of insulin in plasma.

The effect of hemolysis on the concentration of insulin in plasma was studied by a radioimmunoassay method. Plasma specimens with hemolysis have apparently lower insulin concentrations than plasma specimens without hemolysis, probably owing to the ability of red cell constituents to degrade insulin. The effects of hemolysis on the radioimmunoassay of insulin are quantitated, and the necessity of a properly collected sample for insulin assay is discussed.