thrombin clotting time
Last reviewed 01/2018
The thrombin time is a measure of the rate of conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin when thrombin has been introduced; i.e. it measures haemostatically active fibrinogen. This test is abnormal, i.e. prolonged, in:
- disseminated intravascular coagulation, as a result of inhibition of fibrin polymerization by fibrin degradation products
- hypofibrinogenaemia
- the presence of heparin
Correction of the thrombin time by adding protamine implies that the prolongation was the result of heparin or fibrin degradation products.
disseminated intravascular coagulation
interpretation of the results of screening tests used in the diagnosis of coagulation disorders