Blood, 1960, Vol. 15, No. 4, pp. 505-510.
© 1960 American Society of Hematology, Inc.
Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria: The Role of
Antibodies in the Diagnostic Thrombin Test
WILLIAM H. CROSBY 1 and
NAOMI R. BENJAMIN 1
1 Department of Hematology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Walter
Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D. C.
1. The thrombin test for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) consists in the demonstration that PNH hemolysis in vitro is increased by the
addition of a small amount of thrombin. This ability of thrombin is not substantially changed by preliminary removal of the heterophil antibodies which
are present in commercial preparations of bovine thrombin, provided the test
is performed in the way it was originally described.
2. Dilution of the serum with saline and the addition of imidazole buffer
abolish the phenomenon of thrombin enhancement of PNH hemolysis.
3. Certain commercial thrombin preparations contain additives which inactivate the PNH hemolytic system. These materials are unsuitable for use
in the thrombin test.
Submitted on July 13, 1959
Accepted on August 10, 1959
