Your Source for Clinical Blood Product Samples

Normal human plasma samples for coagulation analyses are most commonly drawn in a 3.2% sodium citrate solution to prevent clotting.  For certain specific purposes, plasma may also be drawn in 3.8% sodium citrate, CPDA, EDTA, Li Heparin, and CTAD.

CPDA: Citrate-Phosphate-Dextrose-Adenine

EDTA: Ethylene-Diamine-Tetraacetic Acid

Li Heparin: Lithium Heparin

CTAD: Citrate, Theophylline Adenosine Dipyramidole

In addition to providing normal samples drawn in the various anticoagulants detailed above, Clinisys can also provide samples which have been both filtered through a 0.22 µm filter and double-spun to ensure the absence of any impurities which would impede analysis.

Finally, to ensure the uniformity of your results, we maintain a limited supply of normal plasma which has been tested negative for the Factor V Leiden and Factor II gene mutations.

Anticoagulants are a class of medications which prevent and treat thrombosis (clotting) by interfering with the clotting cascade. The most prevalent of these are the oral anticoagulants, i.e. coumadin (warfarin), which work by antagonizing Vitamin K, thus blocking creation of Vitamin K dependent clotting factors.

In addition to the oral anticoagulants, there are several other classes of anticoagulants which include heparin, low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), and the direct thrombin inhibitors.  Heparin, and it’s more refined cousin LMWH, both function by activating antithrombin III, while the direct thrombin inhibitors function just as their name suggests.

The thrombolytic agents are also listed in this category, though they are not truly anticoagulants. These drugs are employed after the formation of a clot and are colloquially known as “clot-busters.” Tissue Plasminogen Activator is an enzyme which catalyzes the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin.  Streptokinase functions by binding to and activating plasminogen. Both of these drugs are used in the treatment of embolic/thrombolytic stroke, as well as myocardial infarctions and pulmonary embolisms.

D-Dimer molecules derive their name from the two crosslinked D fragments of fibrinogen which remain after fibrinolysis. These molecules only exist in the bloodstream after activation of the clotting cascade and thrombosis have occurred. As such, D-Dimers are both the products of fibrin breakdown and indicators of thrombotic activity in the body.

In light of this, physicians use a monoclonal antibody assay to determine the concentration of D-Dimers in the blood stream. This value is indicative of thrombotic activity in the body and is used in the diagnosis of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), Pulmonary Embolism (PE), and Diffuse Intravascular Coagulopathy (DIC).

Clinisys maintains a large supply of individual donor plasmas which have been assayed for D-Dimer concentration, some with values well above 10,000 ng/mL. In addition, we have samples with an accompanying clinical diagnosis of DVT, PE, or DIC.

D-Dimer correlation sets are used in setting up new coagulation analyzers, as they are composed of 30 quantified D-Dimer plasmas.

Fibrinogen is the physiological substrate for thrombin, by which it is converted to insoluble fibrin. Fibrinogen is fundamental for normal hemostasis and deficiencies invariably lead to excess bleeding. It can be elevated in inflammatory conditions and this may, in turn, be a risk factor for thrombosis.

Clinisys maintains a large supply of clinical samples ranging from patients with no detectable fibrinogen (< 50 mg/dL) to ultra-high levels (usually up to 1400 mg/dL).

The routine/normal factors are considered to be factors II, V, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, and XIII.  All of these exist as congenital deficiencies, while most of them can be elevated in certain disease states.

Clinisys maintains extensive stocks of all factor-deficient states, both congenital and acquired. Samples with high levels of factors, where they exist, are available.

CliniSys maintains supplies of specific disease state plasmas where the primary disease state can be associated with various coagulation abnormalities.  Examples include liver disease, renal disease, and Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT).  Other specific disease state plasmas can be sourced if requested.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), commonly abbreviated to ‘lupus’, is an autoimmune disorder where the body attacks the nucleus of certain cell types, resulting in inflammation and tissue damage. With this disease state, damage may occur to the heart, lungs, skin, joints, and several other major organ systems. Hematologically, SLE may manifest with Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome and a prolonged aPTT, resulting in the title Lupus Anticoagulant Positive (LA+).

Clinisys maintains a large supply of LA+ plasma, available in quantities varying from individual clinical samples to bulk offerings of up to 1 liter from a single donor.

AntiPhospholipid Syndrome (APS) is a coagulation disorder in which the body produces antibodies to phospholipids in the cell membrane.  This results in arterial and venous thrombosis, as well as complications in pregnancy. This disease may exist in a primary form (absent other illnesses) or a secondary form in which it occurs with other diseases, such as SLE. The most commonly produced antibodies are those against cardiolipin and β2Gp1, though other antibodies may also be present.  Diagnosis of lupus anticoagulant is effected through the use of the Dilute Russell’s Viper Venom Test (DRVVT), Kaolin Clotting Time (KCT), modified aPTT, and several other screens, while anticardiolipin antibody diagnosis employs an ELISA screen.

Clinisys maintains stocks of patients with these two primary antibody types, as well as antiphospholipin antibodies.  Other antibodies may be available when requested based upon the availability of clinical samples.

Clinisys maintains a supply of patient samples which are tested for TAT Complex, Prothrombin Fragment 1.2, Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor, and several other conditions, which may be used as specialty control plasmas for screening assays. For any other control plasmas that you may require, please contact us and we will coordinate with our suppliers to locate the controls that you require.

Natural anticoagulants are those factors that are involved in thrombin generation in the coagulation cascade.  These plasmas, such as Antithrombin III (ATIII), Protein S (PS), and Protein C (PC) are maintained by CliniSys in either a state of congenital or acquired deficiency.

In addition to our normally stocked samples, Clinisys, through our various suppliers, has access to a much larger range of clinical samples. Feel free to forward any inquiries to us regarding specific sample types and we will attempt to locate the material that you require.

Whole blood samples are also available, though due to difficulties in transportation, are only available to our domestic customers with a one week lead time to allow us to locate and draw the requisite donors.

In many cases, without the proper connections, it can be extremely difficult to obtain non-FDA approved medications and test kits for research in the United States. With our extensive network of international clients and contacts, Clinisys has the ability to locate and acquire these items at extremely competitive prices. Please contact us with specific enquiries and we will endeavor to locate the material that you require.