Coagulation Testing, Disorders, Treatment Flashcards
PT (Prothrombin Time): Purpose
identifies deficiency in EXTRINSIC + COMMON pathway (fibrinogen, II/ prothrombin, V, VII, X)
The PT reagent contains (3)
thromboplastin, phospholipid, and calcium
PTT (Partial Thromboplastin Time): Purpose
- identifies deficiency in INTRINSIC + COMMON pathway (all factors except VII and XIII)
- monitors unfractioned heparin treatment + some thrombin inhibitors
Mixing Studies: Purpose
Determines if abnormal PT/PTT is due to factor deficiency OR an inhibitor
Mixing Studies: Principle
- mix patient plasma + normal control (has all coag factors)
- test PT or PTT
Corrected = factor deficiency
Uncorrected = perform inhibitor screen
Inhibitor Screen: Purpose
Determines if inhibitor is immediate OR delayed
Inhibitor Screen: Principle
- (In 1:1 AND 4:1 patient ratios) = mix patient plasma + Normal control (has all coag factors)
- test PT/ PTT 3 times:
1. Mixed: Immediately
2. Mixed: after 1 HOUR of incubation at 37 degrees
3. Separately: after 1 HOUR of incubation at 37 degrees
What does it mean if PT/PTT of an inhibitor screen is prolonged immediately after patient plasma + Normal control are mixed ?
- Inhibitor screen = POS
- Inhibitor reacts IMMEDIATELY
What does it mean if PT/PTT of an inhibitor screen is prolonged after 1 HOUR of (patient plasma + Normal control) being mixed when it was normal after being immediately mixed ?
- Inhibitor screen = POS
- Inhibitor is delayed reacting
How can heparin be removed before performing an inhibitor screen ? Why is this done ?
- remove Heparin using Hepzyme
- Heparin causes FALSE POS inhibitor screen
- prolongs PT/ PTT
Why is patient plasma and Normal control incubated SEPARATELY for 1 hour at 37 degrees as part of the Inhibitor Screen ? What should the results be ?
- separate incubation ensures clotting factors did not degrade during incubation
- Normal control = POS
- patient plasma = neg
Why does the inhibtor screen use 1:1 AND 4:1 patient to Normal control ratios ?
4:1 ratio increases sensitivity to inhibitors
Single Factor Assay: Purpose
Determines which factor(s) patient is deficient in
Single Factor Assay: Principle
- mix patient plasma + plasma deficient in a single factor
- test PT or PTT
- compare results to standard graph to determine factor concentration
If patient plasma corrects PT/ PTT in a Single Factor Assay, what does this mean ?
Recall: patient plasma + plasma deficient in a known factor are mixed
Corrected = patient corrects deficient plasma; patient is not deficient in particular factor
Uncorrected = patient unable to correct deficient plasma; patient is deficient in the same known factor
Fibrinogen Testing: Purpose
Determines levels of fibrinogen in plasma
Fibrinogen Testing: Principle
- EXCESS thrombin + patient sample
- level of plasma fibrinogen is INVERSELY proportional to clotting time
NOTE: excess thrombin neutralizes anti-thrombin activity (FDPs)
Why is thrombin added in EXCESS in fibrinogen testing ?
To neutralize anti-thrombin activity (ie. FDPs)
TT (Thrombin Time): Purpose
- Detect DECREASED levels of fibrinogen, DYSFIBRINOGENEMIA, or THROMBIN INHIBITORS (ie. FDPs, D-dimers)
- Monitor/ evaluate DIC, heparin therapy, fibrinogen diseases
TT: Principle
Thrombin Time:
- dilute BOVINE thrombin + patient sample to bypass previous steps of coag cascade
- measures time to convert fibrinogen to insoluble fibrin crosslinks
D-Dimer: Purpose
To rule out DIC
D-Dimer: Principle
- turbidimetric IMMUNOASSAY (DIRECTLY proportional)
- MONOCLONAL Abs specific to D-dimers coat latex particles
- D-dimers DIRECTLY bind to Abs = AGGLUTINATION = increased turbidity = INCREASED ABSORBANCE measured
Reptilase Time: Purpose
To detect HEPARIN, DYSFIBRINOGENEMIA, or FIBRINOGEN DEFICIENCY
Reptilase Time: Principle
reptilase (enzyme) = converts fibrinogen to fibrin + NOT INHIBITED by heparin = clot forms
- compares results to PROLONGED thrombin time (TT)
What does it mean if TT = prolonged and Reptilase Time = equally prolonged ?
Fibrinogen Deficiency
- there is no fibrinogen in the first place; reptilase cannot form fibrin
NOTE = prolonged TT cannot be due to heparin because reptilase is not affected by heparin, which is also prolonged in this case
What does it mean if TT = prolonged and Reptilase Time = MORE PROLONGED ?
DYSFIBRINOGENEMIA
What does it mean if TT = prolonged and Reptilase Time = NORMAL ?
HEPARIN is present
- but reptilase is unaffected by the anticoagulant
Bleeding Time: Purpose
To test ability of PLTs to undergo PRIMARY HEMOSTASIS
Bleeding Time: Principle
- IN VIVO
- DO NOT DO if PLT <80 x10^9/L
- shallow skin-wound is made on patient
- time to stop bleeding is measured
Which coagulation tests use Turbidimetric end-point clot detection ?
- PT
- PTT
- TT
- Fibrinogen
Platelet Aggregometry: Purpose
To assess PLT function (secretion, aggregation, adhesion w/ ristocetin)
Platelet Aggregometry: Principle
- DO NOT DO if PLT <50 x10^9/L
- PLT-RICH plasma is stirred in AGGREGOMETER with diff agonists:
1. ADP + collagen + EPO + arachidonic acid = tests GPIIb/ IIIa and fibrinogen function
2. Ristocetin = tests GPIb and vWF function
NOTE: agonists initiate PLT aggregometry
Interferences in PLT Aggregometry
- gross lipemia
- aspirin
- PLT <50 x10^9/L
Ristocetin Co-factor Assay: Purpose
- To ensure vWF is present for coagulation
- Differentiate VonWillebrand Disease from Bernard Soulier
Ristocetin Co-factor Assay: Principle
- mix patient plasma with Normal PLTs + Ristocetin
- Ristocetin induces vWF to attach to GPIb receptors on Normal PLTs = aggregation
How to differentiate Unfractioned Heparin (UFH) from Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH) ?
Both:
- indirect anticoagulants
UFH:
- inhibits all serine proteases (plasmin, IIa, IXa, Xa, XIa, XIIa) EXCEPT VII and Kallikrein
- monitored by aPTT or anti-Xa assay
LMWH:
- inhibits Xa
- monitored by anti-Xa assay ONLY
Heparin is a cofactor of __.
Heparin is a cofactor of ANTI-THROMBIN.
Coumadin: what does it do ? How is it monitored ?
- used in ANTICOAGULANT THERAPY
- acts on LIVER = IMPAIRS production of vit-K DEPENDENT factors (II, VII, IX, X “2790” and Protein C/ S/ Z)
- Monitored by PT (INR= 2.0 - 3.0)
Fondaparinoux: what does it do ? How is it monitored ?
- COMBINES with ENHANCES anti-thrombin activity
- inhibits Xa
- monitored by anti-Xa
Dabigatran: what does it do ? How is it monitored ?
- DIRECT THROMBIN INHIBITOR (both free and clot-bound)
- not monitored
Direct Xa Inhibitors: what do they do ? How are they monitored ?
- DIRECTLY INHIBITS Xa (free, bound to IXa, and clot-bound Xa)
- monitored by anti-Xa
What is Thrombolytic Therapy ? Give examples.
Removes pathological clots:
- recombinant TPA & purified UROKINASE = treats MI, embolic/ thrombotic stroke, pulmonary embolisms
- STREPTOKINASE = plasminogen activator but can induce immune/ allergic response
TPA = Tissue Plasminogen Activator
Tube/ anticoagulant requirements for coagulation testing ?
- Sodium citrate (light blue top)
- Filled to capacity
- 1:9 anticoagulant to blood
Why is Sodium Citrate the preferred anticoagulant for coagulation testing ?
- Preserves V and VIII (labile factors)
- Stabilizes pH
- Does not inhibit PLT function
- Anticoagulant reversed when Ca2+ is added
Interferences in Coagulation Testing
- clotted samples
- insufficient tube volume
- EDTA collection
- anticoagulants therapy (heparin, coumadin)
- hemolysis
- lipemia
- cold temp
- hot temp
How does cool temp storage interfere with coag testing ?
prematurely activates VII and PLTs during transport/ storage
How does hot temp interfere with coag testing ?
deteriorates factors V and VIII (heat-labile)
How does gross lipemia interfere with coag testing ?
interferes with testing that use end-point detection (PT, PTT, TT, Fibrinogen)
- increase turbidity = falsely decrease
How does EDTA interfere with coag testing ?
- EDTA does not preserve factor V
- prolongs tests
- chelates Ca2+ needed for coagulation cascade
How does insufficient tube volume interfere with coag testing ?
too much Sodium Citrate anticoagulant = tests falsely prolonged
How does Turbidimetric End-point detection work in coag testing ?
- fibrin clot forms = optical density increases/ transmittance decreases
- when optical density > baseline = timer stops to indicate cot formation