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Thromb Haemost 1983; 50(03): 676-677
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1665285
Original Article
Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart

The Use of Evacuated Tubes for Blood Collection in Oral Anticoagulant Control

A M H P van den Besselaar
The Thrombosis and Haemostasis Research Unit, Academisch Ziekenhuis Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands
,
L P van Halem-Visser
The Thrombosis and Haemostasis Research Unit, Academisch Ziekenhuis Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands
,
E A Loeliger
The Thrombosis and Haemostasis Research Unit, Academisch Ziekenhuis Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 24 May 1983

Accepted 15 July 1983

Publication Date:
18 July 2018 (online)

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Summary

The prothrombin time (PT) test is used to monitor oral anticoagulant therapy. Contact activation of patient blood samples in vitro may shorten the PT and thus lead to underestimation of the degree of anticoagulation. Commercial evacuated tubes for blood collection have been reported to induce shortening of the PT. The Thrombotest modification of the PT determination was used to investigate the properties of different brands of evacuated siliconized tubes. Two recently manufactured batches of such tubes did not induce appreciable shortening of the PT and can therefore be recommended for use in monitoring oral anticoagulant treatment.

Keywords

Prothrombin time - Oral anticoagulant control - Contact activation - Evacuated tubes
 

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