Question

Answer the following questions regarding laboratory evaluation of Heparin (anticoagulant) therapy: How do labs establish a therapeutic range 

Answer 1

Heparin has unstable pharmacokinetics and thus requires monitoring. The techniques such as

aPPT(activated partial thromboplastin time)- heparin therapeutic range have been applied and found reliable.

The method includes:

Patients receiving intravenous will be selected for sample study and ex vivo plasma sample can be collected from these patients.

Diagnosis of patients should be conducted.

Before heparin treatment aPPT, PT and platelet count of patients should be checked.

After heparin injection, anticoagulation status should be checked in every 6 hours.

In sodium citrate bottles, fresh blood sample should be taken.

The antiXa assay, as well as aPTT test should be conducted.

Results can be plotted using scatter plot. Statistical methods such as linear aggression can be performed.

Best fit line can be analysed from these data.

These methods give aPPT range corresponding to anti Xa levels.