The present invention relates to a method for producing
thrombin from a
thromboplastin source using a given BaSO4
reagent as an adsorbent for prothrombin, and a method for assessing the suitability of a given BaSO4
reagent for the preparation of
thrombin. In at least one embodiment, the method comprises contacting a sample of the given BaSO4
reagent with a
thromboplastin source to obtain BaSO4-adsorbed
thromboplastin, and subsequently assessing the procoagulant activity of the BaSO4-adsorbed thromboplastin. In another embodiment, the method comprises the step of assessing the procoagulant activity relative to normal mammalian
plasma.