Influence of temperature and storage time on the stability of biochemical parameters in broilers

Abstract

Poultry farming is a strategic sector of Brazilian agribusiness, requiring high health standards to ensure productivity and competitiveness. Biochemical tests are essential for monitoring poultry health, but pre-analytical variables can compromise their results. This study evaluated the influence of storage time and temperature on the stability of 14 serum analytes in COBB 500 broilers, both males and females, aged 35 and 40 days. Samples were analyzed under different conditions: room temperature (27 ± 2°C), refrigeration (6 ± 2°C), freezing (−20 ± 5°C), and ultra-freezing (−80 ± 5°C), over periods of up to 365 days. Analyte stability varied according to the analyte and storage condition. Lactate was the only parameter that remained stable under all tested condition. It is concluded that the preservation of biochemical analytes depends directly on storage conditions, which must be carefully considered to ensure the reliability of results in healthy broilers.