CORRELATION BETWEEN PROTHROMBIN TIME LEVELS OBTAINED USING PROTHROMBIN METER WITH LABORATORY IN NEONATES

Abstract

Objective: To determine correlation between the Prothrombin time obtained by Prothrombin time meter with Prothrombin time estimation by clinical laboratory in neonates.

Study Design: Cross sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Study was conducted in the department of Paediatrics, Combined Military Hospital Lahore, from Feb 2014 to Aug 2014.

Methodology: One hundred cases, comprising of infants between the age from 0 to 28 days of both genders fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria, were included in the study after seeking written informed consent. Blood samples from all selected neonates were obtained from a peripheral vein under strict aseptic conditions. The samples were analyzed on Sysmex Coagulation Analyzer CA-500 from the Pathology Department. Simultaneously a drop of blood was obtained by heel prick and spot checked by Roche Coaguchek Prothrombin Time Meter. SPSS version 17 was used for data analysis. Percentage and frequency were calculated for the qualitative variables; while mean and standard deviation were calculated for the quantitative variables. Data was analyzed by using Pearson’s correlation between the values obtained with the meter and the laboratory.

Results: The mean (SD) INR values measured from PT meter was 2.176 (0.94557), while that from laboratory was 2.1467 (0.91013). A useful correlation with a correlation coefficient of 0.984 (r =0.984) was found between the two values.

Conclusion: PT values obtained by PT meter did not differ significantly from the PT estimation by clinical laboratory in neonates.