Evaluation of PT and aPTT Test Results

Description

The prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin test (aPTT) are common screening tests for the coagulation cascade. If one or both of these tests is abnormal, retesting of the sample after addition of normal plasma can help separate a deficiency state from the presence of an inhibitor.

"Mixing" studies: If a screening test is abnormal, then a 50:50 mixture of the patient's sample with normal plasma is prepared and tested.

(1) If the problem is a deficiency of a coagulation factor: Usually only about 10% of a coagulation factor is required for a normal test. Addition of normal plasma is sufficient to raise the factor level to sufficient to normalize the test.

(2) An inhibitor will not be affected by the addition of a source of coagulation factors and the test will remain prolonged.

Result

Corrected in Mixing Studies

Not Corrected in Mixing Studies

PT abnormal, PTT normal

Factor 7 deficiency

Factor 7 inhibitor

lupus-like inhibitor

PT normal, PTT abnormal

patient bleeding

Factor 8 deficiency (including von Willebrand's disease)

Factor 9 deficiency

Factor 11 deficiency

Factor 8 inhibitor

Factor 9 inhibitor

Factor 11 inhibitor

nonspecific (anti-phospholipid)

heparin

PT normal, PTT abnormal

patient clinically normal

as above, plus:

Factor 12 deficiency

deficiency prekallikrein

deficiency HMW kininogen

as above, plus:

Factor 12 inhibitor

PT and PTT both abnormal

multiple factor deficiency

fibrinogen deficiency

Factor 2 deficiency

Factor 5 deficiency

Factor 10 deficiency

Factor 2 inhibitor

Factor 5 inhibitor

Factor 10 inhibitor

nonspecific (anti-phospholipid)

heparin

Limitations:

• A low concentration of an inhibitor may be sufficient to prolong a test in the patient sample, but may be too low to prolong the 50:50 mixture sample. Thus, the mixing studies are more effective when the screening test is 1.5 times the upper limit of the reference range as compared to only a few seconds prolonged.

• Normal control material should not be used for mixing studies since this may have been modified by the manufacturer.

• Finding a laboratory to test for deficiencies of prekallikrein or HMW kininogen may be difficult.

• Some immune inhibitors require incubation of the mixed sample before the inhibition is apparent.

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Description

Specialty

ICD-10