Newcastle Laboratories

Lupus Anticoagulant

Clinical Background:

The so-called Lupus Anticoagulant (LA) is an auto-immune antibody found in the plasma/serum of some patients with Anti-Phospholipid Syndrome (APS) and a range of other situations. The anti-body is ...

The so-called Lupus Anticoagulant (LA) is an auto-immune antibody found in the plasma/serum of some patients with Anti-Phospholipid Syndrome (APS) and a range of other situations. The anti-body is an anti-protein antibody and may occur transiently after a period of ill health or be persistant in APS. The antibody may be discovered by chance on pre-op screeing tests - the antibody will in most cases cause a prolongation of the APTT. The test involves the use of two reagents, prepared from snake venom, phospholipid and calcium, with results being expressed as a ratio of screen/confirm. There is an association with increased risk of thrombosis in subjects with APS, this risk is increasingly significant if the subject is also postive for an Anti-B2Gp1 antibody. This test is part of the Thrombophilia Screen and is also performed when investigating a prolonged APTT

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Test Details

  • Discipline:

    Haemostasis

    Haemostasis

  • Specimen Container Adult:

    Light blue - sodium citrate

    Light blue - sodium citrate

  • Specimen Container Paediatric:

    Light blue - sodium citrate

    Light blue - sodium citrate

  • Minimum Volume Adult:

    2.7mL

    2.7mL

  • Minimum Volume Paediatric:

    1.3mL

    1.3mL

  • Special Requirement:

    Tube must be correctly filled to line, to ensure correct ratio of blood to anticoagulant, ensure adequate mixing.

    Tube must be correctly filled to line, to ensure correct ratio of blood to anticoagulant, ensure adequate mixing.

  • Sample Stability:

    4 hrs

    4 hrs

  • Transport Requirements:

    Samples should be transported to lab without delay

    Samples should be transported to lab without delay

  • Freq Analysis:

    Continuous

    Continuous

  • Add On Test:

  • Quality Assurance:

    UK NEQAS Blood Coagulation

    UK NEQAS Blood Coagulation

  • Reference Ranges:

    Normal <1.2

    Normal <1.2

  • Other Info:

    Assay to indicate presence of a lupus anticoagulant.

    Assay to indicate presence of a lupus anticoagulant.

  • Routine Contact Name:

    RVI or Freeman Section Leaders

  • Routine Telephone:

    RVI: 0191 2820332, Freeman: 0191 2231195

    RVI: 0191 2820332, Freeman: 0191 2231195

  • Specialist Test:

    No

    No

  • Specialist Contact Name:

    Haematology and Haemostasis Healthcare Scientist

    Haematology and Haemostasis Healthcare Scientist

  • Specialist Telephone:

    0191 2139758

    0191 2139758

  • Specialist Email:

    alison.brown93@nhs.net

    alison.brown93@nhs.net

Availability:

Available during routine hours, Monday to Friday.

Turn Around:

Usually within 3 days.

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