Thrombin time
Description: 
Bovine thrombin is added directly to test plasma and time taken to clot recorded
Clinical details: 
The thrombin time involves direct conversion of test fibrinogen to fibrin in vitro. Elevated thrombin time can be due to:
● hereditary or acquired deficiencies of fibrinogen concentration or function
● autoantibodies/inhibitors to fibrinogen or thrombin
● elevated D-dimers
● liver disease
● anticoagulant therapy with heparins, direct thrombin inhibitors
● some paraproteins.
● hereditary or acquired deficiencies of fibrinogen concentration or function
● autoantibodies/inhibitors to fibrinogen or thrombin
● elevated D-dimers
● liver disease
● anticoagulant therapy with heparins, direct thrombin inhibitors
● some paraproteins.
Reference range: 
0.9 - 1.1
Units: 
Ratio
Department: 
Location: 
Sample type and Volume required: 
External requests: Citrated platelet poor plasma 
400µL x 1 aliquot
Internal requests: please refer to EPR label
400µL x 1 aliquot
Internal requests: please refer to EPR label
Turnaround time: 
4 hours
Special sample instructions: 
The sample should be analysed within 4 hours of venepuncture. Please ensure sample tubes are filled exactly to the fill-line as underfilling creates a dilution error and leads to inaccurate results.
Contacts:
								Diagnostic Haemostasis and Thrombosis Department
St Thomas': 020 7188 2797; Guy's: 020 7188 7188 ext. 53860
St Thomas' Hospital
North Wing - 4th and 5th Floors
Westminster Bridge Road
London SE1 7EH
Laboratory opening times
24/7
Guy's Hospital
Southwark Wing - 4th Floor
Great Maze Pond
London SE1 9RT
Outside core hours, contact Duty Haemostasis Biomedical Scientist
North Wing - 4th and 5th Floors
Westminster Bridge Road
London SE1 7EH
Laboratory opening times
24/7
Guy's Hospital
Southwark Wing - 4th Floor
Great Maze Pond
London SE1 9RT
Outside core hours, contact Duty Haemostasis Biomedical Scientist
Last updated: 03/10/2022

