[Rapid centrifugation for routine coagulation testing]

Routine coagulation assays are performed with platelet-poor plasma obtained after centrifugation of whole citrated blood. Usually clinical laboratories centrifuge blood from 2,000 to 2,500 g for 15-30 minutes. Thirty two blood samples routinely submitted to coagulation tests, were assayed for the prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and fibrinogen level, in order to compare results obtained using 2 types of centrifugation : centrifugation at 2,500 g for 15 minutes and rapid centrifugation on StatSpin Express 2 at 4,440 g for 2 minutes. A good correlation was observed for the prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and fibrinogen levels being respectively 1,009, 0,908 and 1. We concluded that rapid centrifugation at 4,440 g for 2 minutes does not modify results and contributes, by decreasing duration of the pre-analytical variable to reduce the completion time of these tests.