A functional photometric assay for plasma fibrinogen

Area of Science:

• Clinical Chemistry
• Biochemistry
• Hematology

Background:

• Accurate measurement of fibrinogen concentration is crucial for diagnosing and managing various hemostatic disorders.
• Existing methods for fibrinogen determination, such as the Clauss method, have limitations including potential interference.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel photometric assay for quantifying fibrinogen concentration.
• To evaluate the assay's performance characteristics, including linearity, precision, accuracy, and interference.

Main Methods:

• A turbidimetric photometric assay was developed utilizing the snake venom enzyme Batroxobin.
• Fibrin formation was monitored at 334 nm under optimized reaction conditions.
• Assay performance was assessed using varying fibrinogen concentrations and plasma samples, with comparisons to the Clauss method.

Main Results:

• The assay demonstrated a linear increase in absorbance for fibrinogen concentrations ranging from 80-700 mg/dl, with adjustable ranges.
• Precision and accuracy were found to be comparable to established clinical chemical methods.
• Interference from fibrinolytic split products (FSP) was less pronounced than with the Clauss method, and high FSP levels could be additionally estimated.

Conclusions:

• The developed Batroxobin-based photometric assay provides a reliable and accurate method for determining fibrinogen concentration.
• The assay exhibits good performance and reduced interference, offering a valuable alternative for clinical laboratories.
• The method's ability to detect high FSP levels presents an opportunity for simultaneous assessment.