Simplified prothrombin time standardization

An analysis of prothrombin time (PT) standardization methods is presented. The present recommended ratio method demonstrated complex calibration and wide therapeutic ranges. Standardization by coagulation activities resulted in different therapeutic ranges due to the different sensitivity of assays for the protein induced by vitamin K absence (Pivka) inhibitor. A new method--the modified coagulation activity method--applied a reference assay against which any PT assay can be calibrated by clotting times, and the results were expressed in coagulation activities by the reference assay. This method was preferable due to simple calibration, narrow therapeutic ranges and identical results by any PT assay.