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Test Code TTSC Thrombin Time (Bovine), Plasma


Specimen Required


Specimen Type: Platelet-poor plasma

Patient Preparation: Fasting preferred

Collection Container/Tube: Light-blue top (3.2% sodium citrate)

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 1 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. For complete instructions, see Coagulation Guidelines for Specimen Handling and Processing.

2. Centrifuge, transfer all plasma into a plastic vial, and centrifuge plasma again.

3. Aliquot plasma into a separate plastic vial leaving 0.25 mL in the bottom of centrifuged vial.

4. Freeze plasma immediately (no longer than 4 hours after collection) at -20° C or, ideally,  -40° C or below.

Additional Information:

1. Double-centrifuged specimen is critical for accurate results as platelet contamination may cause spurious results.

2. Each coagulation assay requested should have its own vial.


Forms

If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a Coagulation Test Request (T753) with the specimen.

Useful For

Detecting or excluding the presence of heparin or heparin-like anticoagulants (which act by enhancing antithrombin's inhibition of thrombin and other procoagulant enzymes) when used in conjunction with the reptilase time (RT) in evaluating unexplained prolonged clotting times

 

Identifying the cause of a prolonged prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, or dilute Russell viper venom time when used in conjunction with the RT and fibrinogen assay

Method Name

Optical Clot-Based

Reporting Name

Thrombin Time (Bovine), P

Specimen Type

Plasma Na Cit

Specimen Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Plasma Na Cit Frozen 14 days

Reject Due To

Gross hemolysis Reject
Gross lipemia Reject
Gross icterus Reject

Clinical Information

Prolonged clotting times may be associated with a wide variety of coagulation abnormalities including:

-Deficiency or functional abnormality (congenital or acquired) of many of the coagulation proteins

-Deficiency or functional abnormality of platelets

-Specific factor inhibitors

-Acute disseminated intravascular coagulation

-Exogenous anticoagulants (eg, heparin, warfarin)

 

The prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time are first-order tests for coagulation abnormalities and are prolonged in many disorders. A battery of coagulation tests is often required to determine the cause of prolonged clotting times.

 

Thrombin catalyzes the transformation of fibrinogen to fibrin (by cleaving fibrinopeptides A and B), which is followed by polymerization of fibrin to form a clot. The thrombin time (TT) test measures the time of clot formation when thrombin is added to citrated plasma. The phospholipid-dependent procoagulant enzyme cascades (intrinsic, extrinsic, and "common" pathway) are bypassed by the addition of exogenous thrombin. Therefore, the TT mainly reflects functions and interactions of solution-phase exogenous thrombin and endogenous fibrinogen.

Reference Values

15.8-24.9 seconds

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Saturday

Report Available

1 to 4 days

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Test Classification

This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.

CPT Code Information

85670