| abstract |
A method for detecting and/or quantifying at least one indirect thrombin inhibitor, such as heparin, in a sample derived from blood, comprises adding at least one prothrombin inhibitor to a sample, causing prothrombin in the sample to be processed to thrombin, and measuring at least one parameter that is indicative of thrombin activity. The parameter measured may be clotting of the sample, or a change in a chromogenic, fluorogenic or amperogenic thrombin substrate. The prothrombin activator may be derived from a snake venom, or it may be a derivative of Factor Xa (FXa). Preferably the prothrombin activator may be one or both of the snake venom products textarin and/or noscarin, while co-factors such as calcium chloride and Russell viper venom (RVV-V) may be added. |