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Summary
Four laboratories participated in a comparative study of 2 standardization systems of Quick’s test: on the one hand the traditional system based on a dilution curve and the expression of results in percentage and on the other hand the system recommended by the WHO based on a reference thromboplastin. A commercial thromboplastin reagent was furthermore calibrated.
The traditional system with expression in percentage was of limited value, large discrepancies between laboratories in the interpretation of the results from patients under oral anticoagulants being observed.
The use of the WHO system greatly decreased the discordance between laboratories. This system of standardization represents a heavy workload and can only be undertaken by laboratories handling large quantities of plasma from patients on oral anticoagulants. Manufacturers should thus perform the calibration of their own products and inform the users of the sensitivity of each thromboplastin batch. Uniformization of the expression of results is possible in the second standardization system, and the expression of the results in percents should be progressively abandoned.