Rapid preparation of plasma for 'Stat' coagulation testing

Area of Science:

• Clinical Chemistry
• Hematology
• Laboratory Medicine

Background:

• Accurate preparation of platelet-poor plasma is crucial for reliable coagulation testing.
• Traditional centrifugation methods can be time-consuming, impacting laboratory workflow and turnaround times.
• Previous studies suggested microcentrifugation as a faster alternative for plasma preparation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate and expand upon prior research regarding microcentrifugation for preparing platelet-poor plasma.
• To assess the impact of high-speed microcentrifugation on key coagulation assay results.
• To compare the efficacy of high-speed versus routine centrifugation for plasma preparation in a clinical setting.

Main Methods:

• Microcentrifugation (2 minutes at 11,000 g) was employed to prepare platelet-poor plasma.
• Coagulation assays including prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen, D-dimer, antithrombin III, and dilute Russell viper venom time were performed.
• Results from high-speed centrifugation were compared with those obtained from routine centrifugation (15 minutes at 1800 g) using routinely submitted blood samples.

Main Results:

• No significant differences were observed in the results of the evaluated coagulation assays between high-speed and routine centrifugation methods.
• High-speed microcentrifugation successfully produced platelet-poor plasma suitable for all tested assays.
• The findings confirm the reliability of the microcentrifugation technique for plasma preparation.

Conclusions:

• High-speed microcentrifugation is a reliable and effective method for preparing platelet-poor plasma for a range of coagulation assays.
• This technique offers a significant advantage in reducing turnaround times for these critical laboratory tests.
• The adoption of high-speed microcentrifugation is a practical and beneficial option for clinical laboratories seeking to optimize efficiency.