Commercial human frozen plasmas for local, cross-site and long-term comparability of coagulation analysers

Laboratory compliance implies to correlate instruments for coagulation parameter with a wide range of measure using patient samples or commercialized sets of frozen plasmas. The aim of this study was to evaluate the intra, inter-reproducibility and long-term stability of ExpertCor Routine (ECR) plasma sets (Stago) on different parameters. The study was realized in two laboratories on four different instruments. Inter-site and intra-site correlation of ECR sets for PT, aPTT, Fibrinogen, INR, factor V (FV) UFH and LMWH anti-Xa and intra-reproducibility of DDimer (DDI), factor VIII (FVIII:C) and antithrombin (AT) assays were tested. To evaluate ECR long-term stability, samples were tested until 180 after delivery in one laboratory. Intra-site evaluation correlation coefficients is around 1. All predefined criteria to fulfil good comparability between inter-site instruments are met with Passing slopes between 0.9 and 1.1 and intercepts ranging from -0.62 to 2.83%. Long-term stability evaluation does not show any deviation over 180 days for aPTT, fibrinogen, DDI, UFH, LMWH but a drift for FV with STA-NeoPTimal reagent. On contrary, AT and FVIII:C are not stable. PT in second has an excellent stability unlike PT in percentage. Our study validates the use of ECR sets for correlation between instruments and inter-sites agreement, as for parameters claimed on the products than for factor V and FVIII:C. The evaluation of stability confirming the possible extension of use for 180 days after delivery except for FVIII:C and AT. These plasmas sets are an excellent alternative to local plasma patient use to perform instrument comparison.