The Effect Of Different Activators And Thromboplastins On A Chromdgenic Aptt
Four different activator/thromboplastin reagents (silica/rabbit brain cephalin, kaolin/ simian brain cephalin, ellagic acid/rabbit brain cephalin, and ellagic acid/bovine brain cephalin) were evaluated for use in a chromogenic activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). Parallel determinations using the same reagents in a clotting APTT were made. Compared to the clotting APTT, the chromogenic APTT using ellagic acid activation showed much greater sensitivity to both in vivo and in vitro heparin. Silica activation in the chromogenic assay showed decreased sensitivity to in vivo and in vitro heparin compared to the clotting assay. The kaolin/simian brain cephalin reagent was relatively insensitive in both clotting and chromogenic assays. A significant difference between in vivo and in vitro heparin was noted with all of the reagents in both clotting and chromogenic assays.The chromogenic assays were more sensitive to the effect of vitamin K deficiency and coumadin administration than the corresponding clotting assays. Relative to the effect on the clotting APTT, the chromogenic assays were more sensitive to coumadin and vitamin K deficiency than to in vivo heparin.The results indicate that the chromogenic APTT is not equivalent to the clotting APTT. Distinct differences in sensitivity to heparin and coumadin exist between the two assay systems. There is a marked difference in response to different reagent systems in the chromogenic assay. These various effects need to be considered when designing chromogenic assays.