title: Measurement of functional fibrinogen levels using the Thrombelastograph.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To validate a Thromboelastograph (Haemoscope Corporation, Niles, IL) assay for functional fibrinogen.
  
  
  METHODS
  Correlation study of the Thromboelastograph assay with two conventional fibrinogen assays by the standard Clauss method.
  
  
  METHODS
  Research laboratory of a university medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were obtained from 19 healthy volunteers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thromboelastograph assays, using heparinized whole blood from 19 healthy donors, indicated that reptilase-XIIIa mixture (Activatorf)-generated clot shear elasticity in dynes per square centimeter (Gf) correlated with fibrinogen (mg/dL). Blood from four donors was used to define the contribution of hematocrit (Hct) to Gf by titration with platelet-rich plasma. The Gf versus Hct gave linear correlations (r2 = 0.746) with Gf = 1258 - 17.8 x % Hct. A commercial collection of 19 normal, 10 borderline, and one deficient for functional fibrinogen-citrated plasmas was assayed for Gf after recalcification using Activatorf. Of the 30 plasma samples, four were from factor X- or factor VII-deficient donors and one was from a coumadin-treated donor. There was a linear correlation of Activatorf Gf with functional fibrinogen (r2 = 0.940) with Gf = -730 + 9.21 x fibrinogen (mg/dL).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thrombelastography with Activatorf may be used to determine fibrinogen levels in whole blood.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, 1924 Alcoa Highway, Knoxville, TN 37920, USA. rccarrol1@mc.utmck.edu <rccarrol1@mc.utmck.edu>
authors.forename: Roger C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Craft
authors.forename: Jack J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Chavez
authors.forename: Carolyn C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Snider
authors.forename: Ryan K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Kirby
authors.forename: Eli
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D001778:Blood Coagulation Disorders / Q000097:blood; D004548:Elasticity; D005167:Factor VII / Q000502:physiology; D005170:Factor X / Q000502:physiology; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis*; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D016014:Linear Models; D015539:Platelet Activation / Q000502:physiology; D053657:Platelet-Rich Plasma / Q000502:physiology; D013916:Thrombelastography
chemical_list: D005167:Factor VII; D005170:Factor X; D005340:Fibrinogen