Thrombin Time

Thrombin time (TT) is an indicator of blood antithrombin activity, which is determined by the duration of blood plasma clotting after adding standard thrombin solutions to it. This test is used to evaluate the function of anticoagulants and determine their effectiveness in preventing thrombosis.

The blood clotting process begins with the activation of clotting factors such as factor II (prothrombin), factor VII (proconvertin), factor IX (Christmas factor) and factor X (Stuart factor). These factors are activated by a cascade of reactions that occur in the blood under the influence of clotting factors such as thrombin and fibrinogen.

Thrombin is a key coagulation factor and is activated upon contact with a surface, for example, when the vessel wall is damaged. Thrombin activates clotting factors and forms fibrin, the basis of a blood clot.

To determine TV, a standard solution of thrombin is added to the blood, which activates coagulation factors. The time required for the clot to form is then measured using a stopwatch. The shorter the clotting time, the greater the activity of the antithrombin complex and the higher the level of antithrombin in the blood.

Interpretation of TV results can help in the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases associated with bleeding disorders. For example, an increase in TV may indicate the presence of thrombosis or thromboembolism, and a decrease in TV may indicate insufficient activity of the anticoagulant.

Thus, TV is an important indicator of the activity of the antithrombin complex in the blood and can be used to assess the state of the blood coagulation system.

Active thrombus formation is under constant control of the blood coagulation and anticoagulation systems. At the same time, factors-indicators of the activity of anticoagulant properties are checked. The thrombus system can provoke undesirable consequences if the effect of prothrombin and factors inhibiting the formation of blood masses is simultaneously insufficient. Assessing blood test parameters is one approach.

The rate of fibrin formation allows you to determine a general assessment of the activity of anticoagulants in the blood. Fibrinogen is the first protein of the coagulation or prothrombin system, without which the normal process of blood movement would be impossible. Activation of fibrinogen, caused by irreversible damage to the inner surface of blood vessels, starts the process, i.e. “resurrection” of blood and its activation.

In this article you will learn what thrombin time is and how to measure it. Find out which indicator values ​​indicate problems in the body and why. **Synonyms:** prothrombin, blood clotting, blood clotting factors, blood clotting test.

Thrombin time is the rate of blood protein clotting, or the rate at which a blood clot forms. This test evaluates the ability of blood plasma (the fluid that contains fibrinogen, a protein that is responsible for clotting) to thicken and form a clot when the clotting substance thrombin is added to it. The results of this test may indicate problems in the body, such as an increased risk of bleeding or clotting problems. What are clotting and anticoagulants? Blood plasma is a liquid connective tissue that makes up about 55% of blood volume in healthy people. It includes elements such as proteins, electrolytes, hormones and blood clotting factors. An important function of plasma is to maintain the stability of the circulatory system. In addition, plasma is important for the normal functioning of organs and tissues of the body, as it provides nutrition and oxygen supply to them. Nowadays, doctors always monitor blood clotting. Ideally, the blood should clot easily and after a short time the remaining blood flow should form a clot. This is a normal process of clotting and protecting against bleeding, especially after injury. But if the platelets can't compress and form a clot, the blood can form permanently bleeding wounds. If platelets form a clot too quickly, they can become stuck in the blood flow, causing thrombosis, or blockage, in arteries and veins. Blood clots can block arteries or veins, causing ischemia in an organ or limb. Without sufficient oxygen, organs and tissues cannot function properly and the resulting acute illness can even lead to death. Patients may experience chronic blockage of blood flow, which can also cause them to die. Medical research has shown that clotting disorders