Effects of source and concentration of thrombin, and divalent cations, on thrombin time of heparinized plasma.

ABSTRACT

The effects of the source and concentration of thrombin, and those of divalent cations, on the thrombin time (TT) of heparinized plasma were investigated. A correlation between TT and the heparin concentration was obtained only when the thrombin was of human origin and when it was reconstituted in divalent cation solutions. Relatively small variations in thrombin concentration resulted in marked differences in TT of heparinized plasma. Bovine thrombin gave a very prolonged TT of heparinized plasma compared with human thrombin, though the two thrombins gave identical TT's for non-heparinized control plasma. Divalent cation solution, in which thrombin was reconstituted, had a profound influence on TT of heparin plasma. When thrombin was reconstituted in 0.1 M MnCl2 solution, the TT of a plasma containing 0.5 unit heparin per ml. was the same as that of a plasma containing no heparin. The reliability of the thrombin time test as a means of monitoring heparin anticoagulation must be established by individual laboratories via extensive testing of clinical samples.