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Thromb Haemost 1985; 54(03): 675-679
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1660095
Original Article
Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart

Standardization of Low Molecular Weight Heparins : A Collaborative Study

T W Barrowcliffe
The National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, London, England
,
A D Curtis
The National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, London, England
,
T P Tomlinson
The National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, London, England
,
A R Hubbard
The National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, London, England
,
E A Johnson
The National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, London, England
,
D P Thomas
The National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, London, England
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 05 May 1985

Accepted 12 August 1985

Publication Date:
19 July 2018 (online)

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Summary

A collaborative study was carried out, in which eight laboratories each assayed eight low molecular weight (LMW) heparins against the International Standard (IS) for heparin. APTT assays and three types of anti-Xa method were used. The results of this study showed that:

1. LMW heparins cannot be validly assayed against the IS by APTT or anti-Xa methods.

2. Potencies of LMW heparins vs. the IS differed considerably between the four types of assay method used and also between different laboratories using the same type of method.

3. Adoption of a single LMW heparin standard would improve validity, improve inter-laboratory variation, and largely abolish the differences between the three types of anti-Xa method. However, since calibration of a LMW heparin standard against the IS would give potencies that differ widely by the different assay methods, a single assay method such as the anti-Xa amidolytic, plasma, would need to be chosen for this calibration.

Keywords

LMW heparin - Assay - Standards
 

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