A positive ethanol gelation test associated with high plasma fibrinogen concentration - evidence for soluble fibrin. An experimental study in rabbits.

By infusion of large amounts of human fibrinogen into rabbits, the ethanol gelation test turned positive at various plasma concentrations of fibrinogen, depending on the fibrinogen preparation used, and on individual differences among the animals. After incubation of the fibrinogen preparation in the cold the precipitated material gave a positive ethanol gelation test at lower fibrinogen concentration whereas the ethanol gelation test remained negative in the supernatant at a higher fibrinogen level than that of the starting material. It is concluded that the finding of a positive ethanol gelation test is not due to the fibrinogen concentration per se. Most likely the test becomes positive due to the presence of soluble fibrin in the commercial preparations.