MRCP UK EXAMINATIONS

Detailed explanation-1: -Heparin is measured in Units, but these units are not the same volume as the Units used to measure insulin or penicillin. Common concentrations of heparin are 1000 units per mL, 5000 units per mL, and 10, 000 units per mL; these can be used for IM or s.q. dosing, or diluted in a diluent liquid for IV use.

Detailed explanation-2: -Heparin activity (concentration) is measured in either International Units (IU) defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) International Standard [6], or United States Pharmacopeia (USP) units.

Detailed explanation-3: -A common unit definition is: 1 unit of heparin is the quantity of heparin required to keep 1 ml of cat’s blood fluid for 24 hours at 0°C; it is equivalent approximately to 0.002 mg of pure heparin.

Detailed explanation-4: -The most widely used laboratory assay for monitoring unfractionated heparin therapy is the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT).