Thrombin time

Description: 
Bovine thrombin is added directly to test plasma and time taken to clot recorded
Clinical details: 
The thrombin time involves direct conversion of test fibrinogen to fibrin in vitro. Elevated thrombin time can be due to:

● hereditary or acquired deficiencies of fibrinogen concentration or function
● autoantibodies/inhibitors to fibrinogen or thrombin
● elevated D-dimers
● liver disease
● anticoagulant therapy with heparins, direct thrombin inhibitors
● some paraproteins.
Reference range: 

0.9 - 1.1

Units: 
Ratio
Sample type and Volume required: 
External requests: Citrated platelet poor plasma
400µL x 1 aliquot
Internal requests: please refer to EPR label

Turnaround time: 
4 hours
Special sample instructions: 

The sample should be analysed within 4 hours of venepuncture. Please ensure sample tubes are filled exactly to the fill-line as underfilling creates a dilution error and leads to inaccurate results.

Contacts:
Diagnostic Haemostasis and Thrombosis Department
St Thomas': 020 7188 2797; Guy's: 020 7188 7188 ext. 53860
St Thomas' Hospital
North Wing - 4th and 5th Floors
Westminster Bridge Road
London SE1 7EH

Laboratory opening times
24/7

Guy's Hospital
Southwark Wing - 4th Floor
Great Maze Pond
London SE1 9RT

Outside core hours, contact Duty Haemostasis Biomedical Scientist
For clinical advice or interpretation of results, please contact the laboratory in the first instance.

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Last updated: 03/10/2022