Heparin and Partial Thromboplastin Time: an International Survey

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Abstract
Reliability of routine partial thromboplastin time (PTT) methods in the measurement of the anticoagulant effect of heparin [in human plasma] was assessed in a study involving over 300 hospitals in the UK and overseas. Commercial PTT methods were relatively insensitive to heparin, added in vitro, compared with standardized PTT method tested by the same laboratories. Non-commercial, locally prepared reagents compared well with the standardized method particularly in detection of a low concentration of heparin. The value of a sensitive reference preparation for calibration of routine PTT reagents used in heparin control was demonstrated.