Euglobulin lysis time

A blood sample is needed.

Follow the instructions that tell you how long before the test you need to stop exercising. Heavy exercise can cause a shorter-than-normal ELT time.

When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or slight bruising. This soon goes away.

This is one of the best tests to tell the difference between primary fibrinolysis and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Primary fibrinolysis is the normal breakdown of blood clots. DIC is disease that prevents blood from clotting normally.

The test can also be used to monitor patients who are taking streptokinase or urokinase after a heart attack. These are medicines that prevent blood clots.

A normal value will range from 90 minutes to 6 hours. Euglobulin clot lysis is normally complete within 2 to 4 hours.

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

A longer-than-normal ELT time may be due to:

• Diabetes
• Prematurity (baby being born too early)

A shorter-than-normal ELT time may be due to:

• Blood vessel injury or surgery
• Cancer of the prostate
• Liver cirrhosis
• Fibrinogen deficiency
• Leukemia
• Pregnancy complications (for example, antepartum hemorrhage, hydatidiform mole, amniotic embolism)
• Shock
• A bleeding disorder called thrombocytopenia purpura

The test may also be done to diagnose or rule out:

• Spontaneous abortion
• A bone marrow disorder called primary thrombocythemia

There is a very little risk from having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size so it may be harder to take a blood sample from one person than another.

Other slight risks from having blood drawn may include:

• Excessive bleeding
• Fainting or feeling lightheaded
• Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
• Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)

Euglobulin clot lysis; Fibrinolysis/euglobulin lysis; ELT

Fink LM, Marlar RA, Miller JL. Antithrombotic therapy. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2011:chap 42.

Schmaier AH, Miller JL. Coagulation and fibrinolysis. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2011:chap 39.

Updated by: Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.