The Activity of Heparin Preparations Studied by Amidolytic and Clotting Methods

Abstract

Two heparin standards, heparin isolated from human mastocytoma tissue, four commercial heparins and two heparin preparations separated by affinity chromatography (“High affinity heparin”=HAH and “Low affinity heparin”=LAH) were assayed by the activated partial thromboplastin time method (APTT), the calcium thrombin time method (CaTT) and two amidolytic methods (measuring the accelerating effect of heparin on the inactivation of thrombin or factor Xa by antithrombin III), with and without plasma in the test system. The specific activities of the various heparins were expressed relative to that of the 3rd. Int. Standard (=100). Found specific activities ranged 3 - 198 (LAH and HAH, respectively). In all assay systems HAH had the highest specific activity, followed by one of the commercial preparations and the 3rd Int. Standard. LAH and human heparin had very low specific activities, except in the APTT test system, an assay method which in addition mirrors other anticoagulant effects of heparin than the acceleration of antithrombin III. Apart from the higher effect of LAH and human heparin on the APTT, the difference in specific activities found for each individual heparin preparation with these various assay methods was slight.In view of the reproducibility and simplicity of the amidolytic methods, it is suggested that they be adapted for heparin standardization.