Method Description

Coagulometric (turbidimetric) clot detection is based on the principle that light passing through a medium in which fibrinogen is converted to fibrin is absorbed by the fibrin strands. Light at 671 nm is transmitted through a sample onto a photodetector, which is positioned 180 degrees to the source. Light absorption increases as fibrin clot formation progresses. Consequently, light transmittance through the sample continuously decreases and is measured by the photodetector. The corresponding electrical signal output from the photodetector changes according to the detected light. The signal output is processed via software through a series of algorithms to determine the clot point.

In this test, the incubation of plasma sample with an optimal quantity of phospholipid, a negatively charged contact activator, and buffer initiates the activation of the intrinsic coagulation pathway. After incubation at 37° C, calcium is added to trigger the coagulation process and the time required for clot formation is measured. The activated partial thromboplastin included in the SynthASil kit is a liquid buffered reagent that contains synthetic phospholipid for optimal platelet-like activity and highly defined nonsettling colloidal silica for optimal activation of the contact phase of coagulation.(Package insert: HemosIL SynthASil; IL ACL TOP Operator's Manual. Instrumentation Laboratory, Bedford, MA. R11. 06/2017)