Biomaterial Database

An improved heparin assay which is insensitive to platelet factor 4. 1989

K Fickenscher, and U Buckler

Department for Blood Coagulation, Research Laboratories of Behringwerke AG, Marburg, FRG.

A new reagent for the determination of heparin in plasma has been developed. In the assay heparin which was bound to platelet factor 4 is also measured. That is why samples, which have to be assayed for heparin with this reagent, do not need any special pretreatment like fast and cooled processing in order to prevent release of platelet factor 4 from platelets. Heparin can be assayed in samples anticoagulated with citrate which are used routinely for the determination of other coagulation parameters like PT or aPTT. Freezing prior to the assay is possible and does not influence the result. The assay is based on the inactivation of factor Xa by antithrombin III which is catalysed by heparin or smaller fragments of it. It can therefore be used for the determination of heparins of low molecular weight, too. The sample is first mixed with AT III in order to compensate for a potentially decreased level in the probe. Then the F Xa reagent is added, which releases bound heparin from plasma proteins like platelet factor 4 by an added polysulfated dextran simultaneously to the onset of the inhibitory reaction towards F Xa. Free and secondarily released heparin are then available for determination. After a defined period of time a substrate for F Xa is added and the remaining activity is measured in a photometer. An incubation time of 1 min or 3 min is used for the normal range of 0.1 to 1 U/ml or the low dose range from 0.01 to 0.3 U/ml heparin, respectively.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010978	Platelet Factor 4	A CXC chemokine that is found in the alpha granules of PLATELETS. The protein has a molecular size of 7800 kDa and can occur as a monomer, a dimer or a tetramer depending upon its concentration in solution. Platelet factor 4 has a high affinity for HEPARIN and is often found complexed with GLYCOPROTEINS such as PROTEIN C.	Antiheparin Factor,CXCL4 Chemokine,Chemokine CXCL4,Heparin Neutralizing Protein,PF4 (Platelet Factor 4),gamma-Thromboglobulin,CXCL4, Chemokine,Chemokine, CXCL4,gamma Thromboglobulin
D006493	Heparin	A highly acidic mucopolysaccharide formed of equal parts of sulfated D-glucosamine and D-glucuronic acid with sulfaminic bridges. The molecular weight ranges from six to twenty thousand. Heparin occurs in and is obtained from liver, lung, mast cells, etc., of vertebrates. Its function is unknown, but it is used to prevent blood clotting in vivo and vitro, in the form of many different salts.	Heparinic Acid,alpha-Heparin,Heparin Sodium,Liquaemin,Sodium Heparin,Unfractionated Heparin,Heparin, Sodium,Heparin, Unfractionated,alpha Heparin
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000990	Antithrombin III	A plasma alpha 2 glycoprotein that accounts for the major antithrombin activity of normal plasma and also inhibits several other enzymes. It is a member of the serpin superfamily.	Heparin Cofactor I,Antithrombin III-Alpha,Atenativ,Heparin Co-Factor I,Kybernin,Serpin C1,Thrombate III,Antithrombin III Alpha,Antithrombin IIIAlpha,Cofactor I, Heparin,Heparin Co Factor I
D013997	Time Factors	Elements of limited time intervals, contributing to particular results or situations.	Time Series,Factor, Time,Time Factor
D065427	Factor Xa Inhibitors	Endogenous factors and drugs that inhibit or block the activity of FACTOR XA.	Direct Factor Xa Inhibitor,Direct-Acting Oral Anticoagulant,Direct-Acting Oral Anticoagulants,Factor Xa Inhibitor,Direct Factor Xa Inhibitors,Anticoagulant, Direct-Acting Oral,Anticoagulants, Direct-Acting Oral,Direct Acting Oral Anticoagulant,Direct Acting Oral Anticoagulants,Inhibitor, Factor Xa,Oral Anticoagulant, Direct-Acting,Oral Anticoagulants, Direct-Acting,Xa Inhibitor, Factor
D066298	In Vitro Techniques	Methods to study reactions or processes taking place in an artificial environment outside the living organism.	In Vitro Test,In Vitro Testing,In Vitro Tests,In Vitro as Topic,In Vitro,In Vitro Technique,In Vitro Testings,Technique, In Vitro,Techniques, In Vitro,Test, In Vitro,Testing, In Vitro,Testings, In Vitro,Tests, In Vitro,Vitro Testing, In