[Evaluation of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the determination of prothrombin fragment F1.2 (Dade Prothrombin Fragment F1.2 ELISA: Baxter Diagnostics Inc., U.S.A.) using micro-titer plate].

Prothrombin fragment F1.2 (F1.2) is a new molecular marker indicating acceleration of blood coagulation. We evaluated a new assay of F1.2 measurement using a micro-titer plate (Dade Prothrombin Fragment F1.2 ELISA: Baxter Diagnostics Inc., U.S.A.). The assay obtained satisfactory results in intra-assay reproducibility test, inter-assay reproducibility test, dilution linearity test and in vitro recovery test. Normal values of plasma F1.2 were 0.16 +/- 0.09 nmol/l (mean +/- SD) in 108 healthy individuals. Differences in the levels between the sexes were not significant. In patients with DIC (n = 22), plasma F1.2 levels were significantly higher than in normal healthy individuals and were correlated with the levels of thrombin-antithrombin III complex. These findings suggest that this F1.2 assay using a micro-titer plate is clinically useful for the evaluation of the therapeutic effect and diagnosis of hypercoagulable states like DIC.