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Thromb Haemost 1986; 55(02): 250-258
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1661531
Original Article
Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart

The Reliability of Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time Methods and the Relationship to Lipid Composition and Ultrastructure

K J Stevenson
The UK Reference Laboratory for Anticoagulant Reagents and Control, Withington Hospital, Manchester, UK
,
Ann C Easton
The UK Reference Laboratory for Anticoagulant Reagents and Control, Withington Hospital, Manchester, UK
,
A Curry
The UK Reference Laboratory for Anticoagulant Reagents and Control, Withington Hospital, Manchester, UK
,
Jean M Thomson
The UK Reference Laboratory for Anticoagulant Reagents and Control, Withington Hospital, Manchester, UK
,
L Poller
The UK Reference Laboratory for Anticoagulant Reagents and Control, Withington Hospital, Manchester, UK
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 01 October 1985

Accepted 18 February 1986

Publication Date:
18 July 2018 (online)

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Summary

Wide variations in procoagulant properties, lipid composition and ultrastructure of five commonly used APTT methods have been demonstrated. Performance of the methods with a range of coagulation abnormalities has been ranked. Most of the reagents obtained a high score with one or more defects, but a low score with others. A consistent good ranking throughout was only observed with one reagent.

The number of significant correlations between the reagents’ procoagulant activities and lipid content confirms the view that the performance of an APTT method is largely dependent upon its lipid composition. Marked differences in concentration and distribution of phospholipids, fatty acids and neutral lipids were evident. The importance of the concentration of phosphatidyl serine in regulating the procoagulant activity of an APTT method has been demonstrated. Electron microscopy provides evidence of the contrasting composition of the reagents from the more discrete uniform liposomes present in the more reliable reagents, to more ill-defined components present in those reagents which performed less well. The study highlights the need for standardisation of the APTT.

Key words

Activated partial thromboplastin time - Coagulation response - Lipid composition - Ultrastructure
 

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