Coagulation-time determination with automatic multivariable analysis, by use of a miniature centrifugal fast analyzer

Use of a miniature Centrifugal Fast Analyzer for the parallel photometric monitoring of the coagulation process is shown to have a number of advantages. These include a choice of optical modes, virtually simultaneous initiation and observation of the coagulation process for a number of patient-plasma samples and an on-board control sample, small sample and reagent volume requirements, and automatic determination of a number of diagnostically useful variables (including relative fibrinogen content) from the data recorded in a single run. Also, the system is shown to give results that correlate well with those obtained by conventional techniques for determination of prothrombin time.