title: Utilisation of Quartz Crystal Microbalance Sensors with Dissipation (QCM-D) for a Clauss Fibrinogen Assay in Comparison with Common Coagulation Reference Methods.
abstract: The determination of fibrinogen levels is one of the most important coagulation measurements in medicine. It plays a crucial part in diagnostic and therapeutic decisions, often associated with time-critical conditions. The commonly used measurement is the Clauss fibrinogen assay (CFA) where plasma is activated by thrombin reagent and which is conducted by mechanical/turbidimetric devices. As quartz crystal microbalance sensors with dissipation (QCM-D) based devices have a small footprint, can be operated easily and allow measurements independently from sample transportation time, laboratory location, availability and opening hours, they offer a great opportunity to complement laboratory CFA measurements. Therefore, the objective of the work was to (1) transfer the CFA to the QCM-D method; (2) develop an easy, time- and cost-effective procedure and (3) compare the results with references. Different sensor coatings (donor's own plasma; gold surface) and different QCM-D parameters (frequency signal shift; its calculated turning point; dissipation signal shift) were sampled. The results demonstrate the suitability for a QCM-D-based CFA in physiological fibrinogen ranges. Results were obtained in less than 1 min and in very good agreement with a standardized reference (Merlin coagulometer). The results provide a good basis for further investigation and pave the way to a possible application of QCM-D in clinical and non-clinical routine in the medical field.
authors.affiliation: Biosensorik-Gruppe, Institut für Klinische und Experimentelle Transfusionsmedizin (IKET), Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 27, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. stephanie.oberfrank@freenet.de.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oberfrank
authors.affiliation: Biosensorik-Gruppe, Institut für Klinische und Experimentelle Transfusionsmedizin (IKET), Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 27, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. hartmut.drechsel@web.de.
authors.forename: Hartmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Drechsel
authors.affiliation: Biosensorik-Gruppe, Institut für Klinische und Experimentelle Transfusionsmedizin (IKET), Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 27, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. s.sinn@gmx.net.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sinn
authors.affiliation: Biosensorik-Gruppe, Institut für Klinische und Experimentelle Transfusionsmedizin (IKET), Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 27, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. hinnak.northoff@med.uni-tuebingen.de.
authors.forename: Hinnak
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Northoff
authors.affiliation: Biosensorik-Gruppe, Institut für Klinische und Experimentelle Transfusionsmedizin (IKET), Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 27, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. frank.gehring@3t-analytik.de.
authors.forename: Frank K
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Gehring
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000502:physiology; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D058525:Quartz Crystal Microbalance Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D013917:Thrombin / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D006046:Gold; D005340:Fibrinogen; D013917:Thrombin
keywords: Blood Coagulation; Blood Viscoelasticity; Clauss Fibrinogen Assay; Fibrinogen; Quartz Crystal Microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D)