Tests to Measure Fibrin formation

Mr. Mohammed A. Jaber

1. Thrombin Time TT2. Reptilase Time3. Quantitative

Fibrinogen

Tests to Measure Fibrin formation

Thrombin Time Thrombin Time (TT) or(TT) orThrombin Clotting Time Thrombin Clotting Time

(TCT)(TCT)

Tests to Measure Fibrin formationTests to Measure Fibrin formation

Principle The thrombin time (TT) is the time required for

thrombin to convert fibrinogen to an insoluble fibrin clot.

Fibrin formation is triggered by the addition of thrombin to the specimen and, therefore, bypasses prior steps in the coagulation cascade.

The TT does not measure defects in the intrinsic or extrinsic pathways.

The test is affected by abnormal levels of fibrinogen and dysfibrinogenemia and the presence of antithrombins such as heparin and direct thrombin inhibitors such as hirudin and FDPs.

Thrombin Clotting Time (TCT)

Principle of Principle of TTTT

Commercially prepared bovine thrombin reagent at 2 NIH units/mL cleaves fibrinopeptides A and B from plasma fibrinogen to form a detectable polymer

normal value 14 to 18 sec. 14 to 18 sec. The TT is prolonged in patients

with 1. hypofibrinogenemia (usually less than

100 mg/dl.) 2. dysfibrinogenemia3. And in the presence of anticoagulants

such as heparin and hirudin, or FDPs.

Interpretation

Reptilase (Atroxin)TimeTests to Measure Fibrin formation

Principle Reptilase (Atroxin) is a thrombin-like enzyme,

isolated from the venom of Bothrops atrox, that catalyzes the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin in a manner similar to thrombin.

Unlike thrombin, the enzyme cleaves only fibrinopeptide A from the fibrinogen molecule whereas thrombin cleaves fibrinopeptides A and B.

Reptilase Time

Normal values Normal values are approximately 15 to 2015 to 20 seconds.

All the congenital dysfibrinogenemias have an infinite reptilase time.

The reptilase time is also infinitely prolonged in cases of congenital afibrinogenemia.

In states of hypofibrinogenemia, the reptliase time may be variable, depending on the levels of fibrinogen present.

The reptilase time is moderately prolonged in the presence of FDPs and is unaffected by heparin and is unaffected by heparin

Interpretation

• In the presence of heparin, thrombin is inhibited through the interaction of antithrombin (AT-III). However, heparin does not interfere with the ability of reptilase to cleave fibrinopeptide A from fibrinogen

CommeCommentnt

Test ComparisonTest Comparison

Thrombin Time

Reptilase Time

Defect

Infinitely prolonged Infinitely prolonged Dysfibrinogenemia

Infinitely prolonged Infinitely prolonged Afibrinogenemia

prolonged Equally prolonged Hypofibrinogenemi

a

prolonged Normal Heparin

prolongedSlightly to

moderately prolonged

FDPs

A comparison of both TT and reptilase time will aid in detecting the presence of thrombin inhibitors such as heparin.

Quantitative FibrinogenTests to Measure Fibrin formation

Fibrinogen assays are quantitative techniques to measure the amount of functional fibrinogen functional fibrinogen present in the plasma. present in the plasma.

The assay is based on the Clauss assay, which is the reference method.

This fibrinogen assay measures the time required for thrombin to convert fibrinogen to fibrin.

Fibrinogen I thrombin IIa > Fibrin clot

Ia

Principle:

The procedure is a determination based on fibrinogen activity, but results are converted to concentration (mg/dL) by comparison with control plasma results.

In the fibrinogen procedure, thrombin is added to various dilutions of known concentrations of fibrinogen to produce a thrombin-clotting time in seconds.

The clotting times are then plotted on a graph, with the known concentrations concentrations on the x-axisthe x-axis, versus the clotting timeclotting time on the y-axisthe y-axis.

The clotting times are performed using controls and the patient sample at a 1:10 dilution.***

Principle

An excess amount of thrombin reagent is added and the time it takes for the specimen to clot is recorded in seconds.

This time is then converted to mg/dL of fibrinogen by comparing these results to results obtained on a fibrinogen standard curve.

Patient results may be read directly off of the standard curve graph, or off of a data chart prepared from the graph that already converts time in seconds to mg/dL.

Principle

The time it took for the specimen to clot is inversely proportional to the fibrinogen concentration in mg/dL.

For instance, a prolonged fibrinogen clotting time means the fibrinogen level (mg/dL) is low.

Principle

For example: Patient thrombin clotting time of 12.5 seconds

220 mg/dLNote: I, II, III represent reference plasmas

Principle

Coagulation analyzer Test tubes Commercial fibrinogen determination kit:

Thrombin, 100 National Institutes of Health (NIH) units/mL, bovine lyophilized

Fibrinogen standard Owren's Veronal buffer, pH 7.35 Control (with a known fibrinogen

concentration)

Reagents and Equipment

1. Collect blood by clean venipuncture technique according to recommended procedures previously described.

2. Process and store plasma samples following recommended guidelines.

3. Reconstitute the thrombin reagent according to the manufacturer's directions.

4. This assay is commonly performed on a coagulation analyzer.

Procedure

1. The calibration curve is prepared from the reference standard by the coagulation analyzer. Alternatively, it may be prepared manually:

Make dilutions of the fibrinogen standard with Owren's Veronal buffer as follows: 1:5, 1:15, and 1:40. Make all transfers from the first test tube.

Procedure:

1.1. Preparation of Preparation of Calibration Curve Calibration Curve

TubeTubeFibrinogen Fibrinogen standard (mL)standard (mL)

Buffer (mL)Buffer (mL)DilutionDilution

10.41.61:5

20.4 of tube 1

(mixed)0.81:15

30.4 of tube 1

(mixed)2.81:40

A. Incubate 0.1 mL of fibrinogen standard dilution at 37°C for at least 2 minutes but no more than 5 minutes.

B. Add 0.05 mL of thrombin reagent. C. Measure the clotting time. If performed in

duplicate, average the results.

Procedure: 2.2. Perform determinations on each Perform determinations on each

dilution of the fibrinogen dilution of the fibrinogen standard as follows: standard as follows:

The calibration curve is plotted via the analyzer with the clotting time in seconds on the vertical (y) axis versus the concentration of fibrinogen standard dilutions on the horizontal (x) axis. Construct a linear regression line.

Calibration Curve

1. The clinical laboratory scientist prepares a 1: 10 dilution of each patient PPP and control with Owren's buffer.

2. Incubate 0.1 ml of the patient dilution at 37°C for at least 2 minutes but no more than 5 minutes.

3. Add 0.05 mL of thrombin reagent. 4. Measure the clotting time. Average the results if

tested in duplicate. 5. The automated analyzer will automatically make

determinations from the curve in mg/dL

Sample Assay**

Reference range: 200-400 mg/dL Prolonged clotting times may indicate

either1. A low fibrinogen concentration 2. The presence of inhibitors such as heparin or

circulating FDPs.

Some manufacturers include a heparin neutralizer in the fibrinogen reagent that will negate any interference by therapeutic levels of heparin.

Interpretation

The effect of heparin may also be excluded by 1. treatment of the sample with a heparin-

digesting enzyme 2. performing the reptilase time, because

reptilase is unaffected by heparin.

A comparison of clotting times using both TT and reptilase time may help to distinguish a fibrinogen deficiency from a dysfibrinogenemia.

Interpretation

There are several causes for a deficiency of fibrinogen. Severe hemorrhaging may result in any case.

congenital deficiencies may be due to ****1. Afibrinogenemia (a lack of fibrinogen) 2. a dysfibrinogenemia (abnormal fibrinogen)

Acquired deficiencies may be due to1. liver disease2. disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)3. fibrinolysis

Clinical Significance:

High fibrinogen levels are seen During pregnancy in women taking oral contraceptives. in patients in a hypercoagulable state such as

with thrombosis. Fibrinogen is considered an acute-phase

reactant, and, therefore, high levels may be seen in states of acute infection, neoplasms, collagen disorders, nephrosis, and hepatitis along with other conditions causing physical stress.

Clinical Significance:

For fibrinogen values out of the linearity range (46-700 mg/dL for this fibrinogen standard curve) a 1:10 dilution of the plasma will not work and a different dilution must be used.

NOTE:

For extremely high fibrinogen levels (>700 mg/dL) a 1:20 dilution of the plasma is used for the procedure. However, due to the change in dilution, the result read off of the fibrinogen data table must be multiplied by a factor of 2 (since our 1:20 dilution is 2 times the 1:10 dilution originally meant for the data table).

NOTE

For extremely low fibrinogen levels (<46 mg/dL) a 1:5 dilution of the plasma is used for the procedure. The result read off of the data table must then be divided by a factor of 2 (since our 1:5 dilution is half of the 1:10 dilution originally meant for the data table).

NOTE