Proposal for a general strategy of standardization of fibrinolysis assays to be used in clinical practice

During the last decade there has been a growing interest in clinical medici ne to study quantities of the fibrinolytic system and a number of methods h as been disseminated to clinical laboratories. The present report describes the need for standardization and the authors propose that actions should b e undertaken within ISTH to adhere to a comprehensive reference measurement system as known from clinical biochemistry. As a supplement to available r eference material, reference candidate methods should be established as a f irst step. Also, analytical goals should be defined as based on data on bio logical variation of healthy individuals.