Plasma thromboplastin component or The Christmas factor
(Factor IX)

Sample type:

Plasma

Uses:

factor IX activity test to help diagnose or monitor the treatment of hemophilia B. The test also can help find the reason for an abnormal result on other clotting tests, such as prothrombin time (PT) or partial thromboplastin time (PTT).

Precaution :

Patient Preparation:

Avoid heparin therapy before testing

sample collection:

The test is done with a blood sample. A needle is used to draw blood from a vein in your arm or hand.

Interfering factors:

1. pregnancy cause increase in factor IX.

2. oral contraceptives cause increase in factor IX.

3. Vitamin K antagonists (eg., warfarin) cause decrease in factor IX .

4. Heparin therapy can affect certain coagulation factors

or assays, preclude their performance or cause spurious results.

Indicate when specimen is drawn from a line or a heparin lock.

Pre - analytical errors:

Heparin therapy can affect certain coagulation factors

or assays, preclude their performance or cause spurious results.

Indicate when specimen is drawn from a line or a heparin lock.

Corrective action :

Ask the Patient to refrain from heparin therapy before testing

Post analytical errors:

1. Writing wrong name in the report

2. Writing a wrong result in the report

The corrective action

1/Make sure you write the correct name in the report or use codes that contain all patient data .

2/If the report is not delivered to the patient and this error is discovered the correct result must be written, but if the report is delivered to the patient must communicate with him and tell him that an error has occurred and replace with the correct report

The reference range for factor IX:

is between 60% and 140% of normal values.