摘要 |
The present invention provides apparatus and methods for performing assays for determining the time required for a sample of blood to coagulate. The apparatus comprises reaction chambers coated with one or more clotting agent. A drop of blood or equivalent is placed at the sample application port, diluted, and contacted with the clotting agents in the reaction chambers. The diluted blood sample can be moved back and forth through the reaction chambers until blood clots. The blood clotting process forms fibrin stands that prevent the flow of the blood sample in the reaction chambers. The clotting time is the total time from the sample entering the reaction chambers to the time at which the waveform in the reaction chambers change, or the motion or flow of the sample ceases, and can be measured by turbidity.
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