Patent ID: 6251619
Filing Date: 2001-06-26
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A process for determining a resistance to activated protein C of a test specimen of human plasma comprising the steps of:(1) mixing together(a) said test specimen of human plasma,(b) a reactant deficient in factor V which supplies at least most of the coagulation factors other than factor V, and(c) venom of Crotalus viridis helleri which specifically activates factor X to Xaand incubating the resulting mixture of (a), (b) and (c) for at least one minute at a temperature of between 10 and 45.degree. C.;(2) introducing into the incubated mixture(i) Ca.sup.2+ or (ii) Ca.sup.2+ +exogenic activated protein C;(3) determining the coagulation time (i) in the absence of activated protein C and (ii) in the presence of activated protein C;(4) repeating steps (1) to (3) replacing, in step (1), said test specimen with a normal plasma as control; and(5) correlating resistance to activated protein C by comparing the determinations made in steps (3) for said test specimen and (4) for said normal plasma,wherein initiation of coagulation is by means of activating factor X to Xa by said venom in the presence of (i) Ca.sup.2 + or (ii) Ca.sup.2+ +exogenic activated protein C.