Determination of plasminogen activator inhibitor in plasma using t-PA and a chromogenic single-point poly-D-lysine stimulated assay.

A two stage method for determination of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) activity in blood plasma is described. In the first stage, an excess of single-chain tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) is added to plasma. In the second stage, the residual t-PA activity is determined with a plasminogen/chromogenic plasmin substrate assay utilizing poly-D-lysine as a t-PA stimulator. The method proved accurate since it correctly determined the PAI activity (range 0 to 110U/mL) in citrated plasma samples with levels established by time course analysis of t-PA inhibition and by titration with t-PA. Furthermore, correlation was excellent (r = 0.97) with the method of Chmielewska et al Thromb. Res. 31, 427-436, 1983. Plasma samples with increased platelet factor 4, indicative of platelet release, did not show increased levels of PAI activity.