QuikClot® ‘kaolin technology’ accelerates the body’s natural clotting cascade

 

Since 2009, QuikClot® haemostatic devices have been made with the inert mineral kaolin.  Kaolin works on contact with blood to immediately initiate the clotting process by activating factor XII. This reaction leads to the transformation of factor XII to its activated form XIIa, which instigates the rest of the coagulation cascade.

​

QuikClot® haemostatic devices promote clotting within 1-3 minutes.

Rotational Thromboelastometry (ROTEM) is used in bleeding situations to assess the viscoelastic properties of whole blood haemostasis.  In vitro, ROTEM demonstrates the kinetics of clot formation associated with the interaction of enzymatic coagulation factors, fibrinogen, platelets and cellular components and is a recommended diagnostic tool for assessment and guidance when controlling bleeding.  Clot Time (CT) describes the onset of clot formation (in sec), Clot Formation Time (CFT) shows clot propagation (in sec), and the alpha angle (α) is taken tangent to the clotting curve at 2mm (in degreesᵒ).

 

QuikClot treated blood shows a faster CT, shorter CFT and steeper α than blood alone which indicates that the clot is activated quickly and amplifies rapidly.  The greater the amplitude of the graph, the firmer the clot (A10, MCF: maximum clot firmness).  As can be seen in the graph, QuikClot treated blood forms a firmer clot faster than untreated blood.

​

​