Lupus Anticoagulant Profile, Plasma
Use
The Lupus Anticoagulant Profile, Plasma is used to confirm or exclude the presence of lupus anticoagulant (LA) and distinguish it from specific coagulation factor inhibitors and nonspecific inhibitors. It is helpful in investigating a prolonged activated thromboplastin time, especially when combined with other coagulation studies. LA is associated with systemic lupus erythematosus, autoimmune disorders, and collagen vascular disease and can cause arterial and venous thrombosis as well as fetal loss. Testing is not suitable for detecting antiphospholipid antibodies not affecting coagulation tests; separate testing is recommended for such antibodies.
Special Instructions
Patient preparation is critical for accurate results; patients should not be receiving anticoagulant treatment or fibrinolytic agents. Specimen should be collected prior to factor replacement therapy and follow proper guidelines for specimen handling, double-centrifugation is essential. Shipping instructions specify to send aliquots in the same shipping container.
Limitations
This test is not useful for detecting antiphospholipid antibodies that do not affect coagulation tests. False positives may occur in the presence of heparin or other interfering substances. Results can be affected by Coumadin (warfarin) treatment, which may impair the detection of subtler varieties of lupus-like anticoagulants.
New York Approved
Methodology
Other
Biomarkers
LOINC Codes
- 75881-3
- 14979-9
- 75882-1
- 6301-6
- 5902-2
- 15359-3
Result Turnaround Time
3-5 days
Related Documents
For more information, please review the documents below
Specimen
Plasma
Volume
4 mL
Minimum Volume
3 mL
Container
Light-blue top (citrate)
Collection Instructions
Specimen must be collected prior to factor replacement therapy. Centrifuge, transfer all plasma into a plastic vial, and centrifuge plasma again. Aliquot plasma into 4 separate plastic vials, each containing 1 mL. Freeze plasma immediately at -20 degrees C or ideally, -40 degrees C or below.
Patient Preparation
Patients should not receive anticoagulant treatment if possible. Avoid intravenous heparin 4-6 hours before collection and subcutaneous heparin or Coumadin 10-14 days before collection. Avoid fibrinolytic agents and ideally perform pretransfusion if recently transfused.
Causes for Rejection
Gross hemolysis, gross lipemia, gross icterus
Stability Requirements
| Temperature | Period |
|---|---|
| Frozen | 14 days |