HEM.23453 Heparin Therapeutic Range Phase I
There is a record that the aPTT-based heparin therapeutic range is established and
subsequently verified using an appropriate technique.
NOTE: The heparin-responsiveness of aPTT reagents may change from lot to lot and among
different reagents used on different instrument platforms. For this reason, it is necessary to
establish the heparin therapeutic range for the aPTT assay with each change of coagulation
instrument and/or reagent type. The therapeutic range must be verified with each new lot of a
given aPTT reagent.
The aPTT is commonly used to monitor the anticoagulant effects of unfractionated heparin. The
therapeutic range for heparin therapy should be initially validated for new reagents or instruments
by using ex vivo plasma samples anticoagulated with 3.2% sodium citrate obtained from patients
receiving therapeutic doses of unfractionated heparin. This can be accomplished by measuring
the aPTT and heparin activity and then deriving the aPTT therapeutic range by comparison to
heparin activity. For subsequent reagent lot changes, the therapeutic range can be verified by
comparing the aPTT of patient samples using the new and the prior aPTT lots. It is not best
practice to use plasma samples spiked with heparin in vitro to calculate the therapeutic range,
as differences in heparin binding proteins in vitro may lead to overestimation of the therapeutic
range.
Anti-Xa activity is the preferred alternate method to monitor heparin therapy.
Evidence of Compliance:
✓ Written procedure for establishing and verifying the aPTT heparin therapeutic range