This webinar will look at the principles of the assays available to monitor heparin.  The most frequent assay that is used is the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT).  This assay is readily available and inexpensive.  However aPTT reagents are poorly standardized and have different sensitivities to heparin. There is no dose response relationship with heparin.  Due to the analytical and biological variables of heparin, patients respond to it differently.  Laboratories using the aPTT to monitor heparin, need to provide clinicians with a heparin therapeutic range specific for their lot of reagent on their analyzer.  An anti-Xa assay is a standardized test that has good precision, and is linear. A heparin assay can provide clinicians with an assay that accurately determines heparin levels and can improve overall patient heparin management.

The objectives of this webinar are:

• Describe the principle of the aPTT and  heparin assays
• Identify the advantages of each assay and outcomes for patient care
• Enhance problem solving skills by analyzing data from case studies.