lasma des-r-carboxyprothrombin(DCP)was determined by ECARIN method using a chromogenic peptide substrate(S-2238)and ECARIN as a activator of DCP in a total of 114 cases

including primary hepatic carcinoma(PHC)47 cases

other tumors and chronic liverdiseases 51 cases and normal control 16 cases. As a result

a sensitivity of 72.3%

specificity of 97%and accuracy of 86.8%were obtained in the diagnosis of PHC. The coefficient variation in the same batch was 3.8%and that of 4.9%among each batch with an average reeovery rate 90.4%for the detection of plasma DCP by E CARIN method. Sample dilution test showed that there was a good linear relationship(r=0.99

P<0.01) between DCP level and sample dilution ratio when DCP level was lower than 120mU/ml.It may be concluded that ECARIN method is either a sensitive

specific

aecurate or simple one on the determination of plasma DCP.