'Argatroban' Monitoring in Human Plasma: aPTT and PiCT Studies on QCM-D vs 'Gold Standard'

Low-molecular weight heparins (LMWHs) are used as effective and safe alternative anticoagulants to unfractionated heparin (UFH) in surgery. Argatroban is an important example of such kind of anticoagulant and is the most-used   anticoagulant in surgery after UFH. This is first report of comparative study of argatroban on quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) platform via activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and prothrombinase induced clotting test (PiCT). The QCM-D platform has been comparatively studied with ‘gold standard’ (i.e. mechanical coagulometer). Human plasma samples of healthy donors (n=20) spiked with different doses of argatroban were subjected to these measurements. QCM-D yields information of aPTT or PiCT and total coagulation points from frequency and dissipation signals. Overall PiCT data yielded lower variability as compare to that of aPTT. QCM-D platform provides the additional advantage of cost-effectiveness in the perspectives of the lowest sample (and reagent) volume consumption of 1.66 µL.