Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 12: 574–580
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The partial thromboplastin time P . M . B L A T T * and G . C . W H I T E I I † ‡ *Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC; †Blood Research Institute, Blood Center of Wisconsin; and ‡Department of Medicine, Biochemistry, and Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
To cite this article: Blatt PM, White II GC. The partial thromboplastin time. J Thromb Haemost 2014; 12: 574. See also Feinstein DI, Osterud B, Rao LVM. The partial thromboplastin time (PTT): reply. This issue, pp 575–6 and Puetz J. The partial thromboplastin time: reply. This issue, pp 576.
Disclosure of Conflict of Interests The partial thromboplastin time (PTT) assay was described in 1953 by Langdell et al. [1]. The evolution and significance of the PTT assay was reviewed in JTH in 2003 in a historical sketch [2]. Recent publications [3,4] have attributed the development of the PTT assay to Proctor and Rapaport [5]. In fact, the kaolin-activated PTT assay of Proctor and Rapaport is a refinement of the original PTT assay previously published by Langdell et al. [1]. Accuracy is imperative in scientific writing, including historical accuracy, so that prior physician/scientists in the fields of thrombosis and hemostasis are properly credited for their pioneering discoveries, and so that younger generations better understand and appreciate these ground-breaking discoveries. Correspondence: Philip M. Blatt, 81505 Alexander, Chapel Hill, NC 27517, USA. Tel.: +1 919 240 5786. E-mail: [email protected]
The authors state that they have no conflict of interest. References 1 Langdell RL, Wagner RH, Brinkhous KM. Effect of antihemophilic factor on one-stage clotting tests. A presumptive test of hemophilia and a simple one-stage antihemophilic factor assay. J Lab Clin Med 1953; 41: 637–47. 2 White GC. The partial thromboplastin time: defining an era in coagulation. J Thromb Haemost 2003; 1: 2267–70. 3 Feinstein DI, Østerud B, Rao LVM. Samuel I. Rapaport, creator of the partial thromboplastin time and other landmark discoveries: 19 November 1921–20 December 2011. J Thromb Haemost 2012; 10: 1719–21. 4 Puetz J. Fresh frozen plasma: the most commonly prescribed hemostatic agent. J Thromb Haemost 2013; 11: 1794–9. 5 Proctor RR, Rapaport SI. The partial thromboplastin time with kaolin. A simple screening test for first stage plasma clotting factor deficiencies. Am J Clin Pathol 1961; 36: 212–9.
DOI: 10.1111/jth.12492 Received 3 December 2013 Manuscript handled by: F. R. Rosendaal Final decision: F. R. Rosendaal, 6 December 2013
© 2014 International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The partial thromboplastin time P . M . B L A T T * and G . C . W H I T E I I † ‡ *Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC; †Blood Research Institute, Blood Center of Wisconsin; and ‡Department of Medicine, Biochemistry, and Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
To cite this article: Blatt PM, White II GC. The partial thromboplastin time. J Thromb Haemost 2014; 12: 574. See also Feinstein DI, Osterud B, Rao LVM. The partial thromboplastin time (PTT): reply. This issue, pp 575–6 and Puetz J. The partial thromboplastin time: reply. This issue, pp 576.
Disclosure of Conflict of Interests The partial thromboplastin time (PTT) assay was described in 1953 by Langdell et al. [1]. The evolution and significance of the PTT assay was reviewed in JTH in 2003 in a historical sketch [2]. Recent publications [3,4] have attributed the development of the PTT assay to Proctor and Rapaport [5]. In fact, the kaolin-activated PTT assay of Proctor and Rapaport is a refinement of the original PTT assay previously published by Langdell et al. [1]. Accuracy is imperative in scientific writing, including historical accuracy, so that prior physician/scientists in the fields of thrombosis and hemostasis are properly credited for their pioneering discoveries, and so that younger generations better understand and appreciate these ground-breaking discoveries. Correspondence: Philip M. Blatt, 81505 Alexander, Chapel Hill, NC 27517, USA. Tel.: +1 919 240 5786. E-mail: [email protected]
The authors state that they have no conflict of interest. References 1 Langdell RL, Wagner RH, Brinkhous KM. Effect of antihemophilic factor on one-stage clotting tests. A presumptive test of hemophilia and a simple one-stage antihemophilic factor assay. J Lab Clin Med 1953; 41: 637–47. 2 White GC. The partial thromboplastin time: defining an era in coagulation. J Thromb Haemost 2003; 1: 2267–70. 3 Feinstein DI, Østerud B, Rao LVM. Samuel I. Rapaport, creator of the partial thromboplastin time and other landmark discoveries: 19 November 1921–20 December 2011. J Thromb Haemost 2012; 10: 1719–21. 4 Puetz J. Fresh frozen plasma: the most commonly prescribed hemostatic agent. J Thromb Haemost 2013; 11: 1794–9. 5 Proctor RR, Rapaport SI. The partial thromboplastin time with kaolin. A simple screening test for first stage plasma clotting factor deficiencies. Am J Clin Pathol 1961; 36: 212–9.
DOI: 10.1111/jth.12492 Received 3 December 2013 Manuscript handled by: F. R. Rosendaal Final decision: F. R. Rosendaal, 6 December 2013
© 2014 International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis
