We evaluated the effect of blood sampling in different anticoagulants on the measurement of t-PA antigen/activity and PAI-1 activity. Blood collection at acid pH (pH 5.9: Stabilyte tubes) yielded higher t-PA activity values (median 0.75 IU/ml, 0.46-1.19) than collection in citrate (median 0.04 IU/ml, 0.01-0.14) or in anticoagulant containing protease inhibitors (median 0.20 IU/ml, 0.02-0.41), No significant effects were seen in the levels of t-PA antigen with the different anticoagulants. For PAI-1 activity determination citrated plasma is preferable to Stabilyte plasma.