Determination of Conventional Centrifugation with Rapid Centrifugation Technique for Assessment of Coagulation Testing

Abstract

Background:  Prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) are commonly performed investigations for coagulation in patients of coagulation disorders, particularly in critically among patients and in monitoring of treatment with anticoagulants. In testing of coagulation, samples are processed through centrifugation that is most important step, affecting turnaround time.

Objective: The key purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of rapid centrifugation technique in comparison of conventional centrifugation technique for the assessment of coagulation test.

Patients and Methods: This was cross-sectional prospective study, conducted at Department of Pathology, Indus Medical College Hospital, Tando Muhammad Khan for a period of one year. 289 patients were included in this study for analysis of coagulation tests i.e., PT, APTT, INR etc. by paired samples. One sample from each patient was analyzed using regular centrifugation of work bench at 2500rpm for 20 minutes, while second sample was segregated into aliquots of polypropylene, followed by centrifugation at 11800rpm for 3 minutes in microcentrifuge. Plasma from both samples were analyzed for prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) using commercial thromboplastin along with phospholipid and prothrombin reagent along with calcium chloride respectively. The data was analyzed with the use of SPSS 24.0. Descriptive statistics and student t-test were used for analysis of data. A p-value of <0.05 was measured as significant statistically.

Results: The mean prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and international normalized ratio (INR) showed no statistically significant results when compared in both methods (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: Technique of rapid centrifugation can be safely used with significant turnaround time reduction. This technique is very useful in critically ill patients and outdoor patients on anticoagulant treatment.