1. General Approach of Haemostasis
Lecture 4:
Coagulation Assay (PT)

2. Protime /Prothrombin (PT)
Prothrombin time is the time required for the plasma to clot after an excess of thromboplastin and an optimal concentration of calcium have been added.
Although the PT was originally described as a specific, one-stage assay of prothrombin (FII), it is sensitive to a quantitative or qualitative abnormalities of any of the factors involved in the extrinsic and common pathways of the coagulation system (Factors II, V, VII, X, and Fibrinogen).
Prothrombin is one of the coagulation factors produced by the liver

3. The PT used to determine the clotting tendency of blood, in the measure of warfarin dosage, liver damage, and vitamin K status.
Occasionally, the test may be used to screen patients for any previously undetected bleeding problems prior to surgical procedures.
Warfarin Comidin and other antigogulant durgs act by inhibiting the synthesis of vitamin K-dependant clotting factors II, V, VII, X also anticoagulant protiens C, S

5. The Test The Standard operating Procedure
Procedure name
Clinical significance
Principle of method
Specimen of choice
Reagents and equipments
Procedure
Reference values
Comments
References Principle

6. Principle:
When reagent thromboplastin--to which calcium has been added--is mixed with plasma (derived from sodium citrated whole blood), the time (in seconds) it takes for the formation of a clot is reported as the Prothrombin time (PT).
Calcium is necessary for the correct orientation and binding of a number of complexes including : tissue factor-VIIa, IXa-VIIIa, and Va-Xa.

8. PT Reagent
Thromborel® S Reagent: lyophilized human placental thromboplastin, calcium chloride, stabilizers
Thromboplastin may be obtained from other sources like Rabbit brain or lung tissue
Neoplastine® C1 Plus - lyophilized fresh rabbit brain thromboplastin with a specific heparin inhibitor hydrated with a solvent containing calcium with stabilizers, polybrene, buffer and preservatives.
(Tissue Factor, coagulation factor III ) protein-lipid complex found in tissues outside blood vessels. It is the combination of both phospholipids and tissue factor, both needed in the activation of the extrinsic pathway*.
However, partial thromboplastin is just phospholipids, and not tissue factor. Tissue factor is not needed to activate the intrinsic pathway.
Tissue(TF) is the cell-surface transmembrane receptor that initiates both the extrinsic and intrinsic blood coagulation cascades.

9. Recombinant thromboplastin has been produced using human tissue factor in Escherichia coli. These synthetic phospholipids do not contain any other clotting factors such as Prothrombin, factor VII, and factor X.
Therefore they are highly sensitive to factor deficiencies and oral anticoagulant–treated patient plasma samples and have an International Sensitivity Index (ISI) close to 1.
Recombinant Thromboplastin: producing a sensitive human thromboplastin reagent from a non-recombinant source: cultured human cells. Cloning and expression of recombinant human tissue factor (TF) has enabled production of a new generation of thromboplastin reagents whose performance and utility are under active investigation.

10. SPECIMEN
Citrated plasma: 1 part of sodium citrate solution (0.11 mol/ L) to 9 part of venous blood, avoiding the formation of foam.
Control: normal plasma (Commercial, Pooled Plasma)

11. Calibration of Reagent
Each Thromboplastin Reagents must be calibrated against standard PT reagent established by the WHO.
ISI = International Sensitivity Index.
ISI is assigned by the manufacturer for each lot of reagent using reference material from WHO.
The lower the ISI the more sensitive the Reagent
ISI of 1.8 to 2.4 = Low sensitivity
ISI of 1.4 to 1.8 = Average sensitivity
ISI 1.0 to 1.4 = High Sensitivity

12. EQUIPMENTS 100 μL micropipettes (0.10 mL)
Stop Watch.
Thromborel® S Reagent
Racks
Test tubes
Waterbath (37ºC)
Waste containers/ Biohazard bags

13. Procedure
Reconstitute tissue thromboplastin according to instructions. Label the thromboplastin with the time, date and initials. The thromboplastin reagent is stabile for 7 days after reconstitution. Allow to sit minutes, then invert gently several times.
Mix well prior to pipetting any of this reagent at any step in this procedure.
Prewarming of the reagent by pipetting 1-2 mls, using a plastic pipette, of the tissue PT reagent into a glass test tube and place in a 370 C water bath incubator.

14. Pipette 100 µL of normal control, Patient PPP into each of the test tubes.
Allow at least one (1) minute to reach 37°C.
Pipette 200 µL of PT reagent into the tube containing the control. Start the stop watch simultaneously.
Mix the tube and leave in the water bath for a minimum of 7-8 seconds. Then remove, wipe the exterior, tilt back and forth gently until a visible clot is formed. As the clot forms, the mixture will gelatinize and may turn cloudy.
Stop the stop watch and record the result. If the results from run 1 and run 2 are within + 10% second from each other, average the two results and report with appropriate units.

15. If results are not within required limits, a third run should be performed and average the two that match within acceptable limits.
Be sure and cross out any values you are not using for the final calculation. Include measurement unit of seconds on report sheet.
Carry out 1 significant figure passed the decimal point. For example, if your result is seconds, report as 12.2 seconds.
Repeat the procedure for the samples and Record the time.

16. Results are expressed as the mean of the duplicate reading in:
Seconds
Prothrombin ratio
International Normalized Ratio (INR)

17. Reference ranges PT: 11.0 – 13.0 seconds.
Therapeutic levels are at a P/C ratio of 2.0 – 3.0
CRITICAL VALUES*
PT critical value changed to > 42.1 seconds;
INR changed to > 4.5
PCS; Pathology Clinical Services
* (Refer to PCS Policy Reporting Critical Values for reporting guidelines

19. When is it ordered?
Used to monitor oral anticoagulant therapy (Warfarin / Coumadin).
When a patient who is not taking anti-coagulant drugs has signs or symptoms of a bleeding disorder
When a patient is to undergo an invasive medical procedure, such as surgery, to ensure normal clotting ability.

20. An elevated Prothrombin time may indicate the presence of
Vitamin K deficiency
DIC,
Liver disease,
Presence of FSP’s
A deficiency in one or more of the Concerning factors: Factor I (Fibrinogen), Factor II (Prothrombin), Factor V (Proaccelerin, Labile Factor), Factor VII (Proconvertin, Stable Factor, Factor X (Stuart-Prower Factor, Factor XIII (Fibrin Stabilizing Factor)
In addition, inhibitors can cause prolonged PT’s.
FSP’s : Fibrinogen split products

21. Interpretation of Result
A Normal Plasma is used to evaluate routine result.
The INR is not used to evaluate Routine PT results.
For Patients who are on oral anticoagulant therapy such as Coumadin INR result must be reported.
Standardization of Report from lab to lab, by using INR results.
Patients with lupus anticoagulants are not be requested for PT as they have antiphospholipid

22. Interfering Factors
Diet: ingestion of excessive green, leafy vegetables will increase the absorption of vit-K, which promotes blood clots.
Alcoholism, Prolonged PT levels
Diarrhea and vomiting decrease PT because of dehydration.
Quality of Vein puncture.
Medication : Antibiotics , Aspirin, Cimethidine….
Prolonged Storage of plasma at 4o C.

23. Sources of Error Associated with specimen (Preanalytical)
Inappropropriate ratio of anticoagulant to blood
Failure to correct citrate volume if hematocrit > 55%
Clotted, hemolyzed or lipemic samples
Lack of PPP
Delay in testing or processing
Inappropriate storage

24. Associated with Reagent (Analytical) Incorrect preparation of reagents
Sources of Error
Associated with Reagent (Analytical)
Incorrect preparation of reagents
Use of reagents beyond reconstituted stability time or expiration date
Contaminated reagent.
Associated with procedure (Analytical)
Incorrect temperature
Incorrect incubation times
Incorrect volumes of sample, reagents or both

25. Thank you
Next Lecture: Coagulation Instruments