Background: Patients who receive home total parenteral nutrition (TPN) frequently are supplied with solutions up to 30 days in advance of anticipated use. The purpose of this study was to determine the stability of trace elements relative to time and temperature conditions, in a typical adult TPN solution stored in a usual home environment by examining variations in delivery of intended trace elements and inadvertent trace element contamination.
Methods: Trace element concentrations were determined using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry technology. The effect of the delivery apparatus, storage duration (36 hours or 30 days) after compounding, and storage temperature (4 degrees C or 20 degrees C) were examined.
Results: The delivery apparatus contaminated the delivered TPN solution with cobalt but did not alter trace elements formulated into the TPN solution. Storage duration and temperature significantly decreased three (Zn, Cu, and Mn) of the six trace elements formulated into the TPN solution. Higher temperatures and longer duration of storage accelerated this decrease. Boron, Al, V, Ti, Ba, Sr, and CO were the trace elements that appeared as contaminants during storage. Boron, Al, V, and Ti contamination decreased with higher temperatures and longer duration of storage.
Conclusions: Longer storage duration and higher storage temperature progressively reduced the deliverable concentrations of trace elements specifically formulated into the TPN solution and also of those trace elements that were not formulated into the TPN solution but that appeared as contaminants.