Haematology

Preferred Sample Type

Thrombin Time

Thrombin Time

Specimen Volume

3.5 mL (Vacuette tubes) or 2.7mL (BD Vacutainer tubes)

Specimen Transport

Standard transport to laboratory

Sample Preparation

Samples must be filled to the black fill line (Vacuette tubes) or the frosted line (BD Vacutainer tubes) indicated on the sample tube. Any sample filled above or below this level will be rejected and a repeat sample will be required

Turnaround Time

24 hours

Sample Processing In Laboratory

Sample should be centrifuged

Sample Stability

12 hours from venepuncture (ideally received no later than 4 hours after collection)

General Information

This test is used to confirm the presence of Heparin in conjunction with a prolonged Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT)

Test Availability:

Available at Queen Elizabeth, Heartlands and Good Hope.

Samples that meet the following criteria will not be processed:

  • Haemolysed, clotted, underfilled or overfilled samples.
  • Samples >12 hours old from the time of collection.
  • Samples received from other hospital laboratories that have been frozen and thawed.
  • Samples which fail the minimum data set.

Assay Limitations:

  • Results are not affected by haemoglobin up to 500 mg/dl or bilirubin up to 24 mg/dl.
  • Lipaemic samples cannot be tested with this assay.

Reference Range

0.8-1.2

Specifications

  • EQA Status: NEQAS
  • EQAS Scheme: Yes

Creation Date

Monday, 08 August 2011

Modification Date

Wednesday, 23 July 2025

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Copyright UHB Pathology 2025

Protection of Personal Information – Pathology Laboratories Services comply with the Trust Data Protection Policy and have procedures in place to allow the Directorate and it’s employees to comply with the Data Protection Act 1998 and associated best practice and guidance.

The laboratories at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Heartlands Hospital, Good Hope Hospital and Solihull Hospital form part of the services provided by University Hospitals Birmingham and are UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) accredited to the ISO 15189:2022 standard. For a list of accredited tests and other information please visit the UKAS website using the following link: https://www.ukas.com/find-an-organisation/ 

  • Molecular Pathology is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 8759
  • Biochemistry is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 8910
  • Haematology and Transfusion is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 8784
  • Clinical Microbiology is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 8760
  • Cellular Pathology is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 10141
  • United Kingdom Health Security Agency laboratory is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No.8213

Tests not appearing on the UKAS Schedule of Accreditation currently remain outside of our scope of accreditation. However, these tests have been validated to the same high standard as accredited tests and are performed by the same trained and competent staff.

For further test information, please visit the test database: https://qehbpathology.uk/test-database 

For further information contact Louise Fallon, Quality Manager, 0121 371 5962/ 0121 424 1235