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Test ID: F8INH    
Factor VIII Inhibitor Evaluation

Method Description Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference

The factor VIII assay is performed on the Beckman Coulter ACL TOP using the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) method and a factor deficient substrate. Patient plasma is combined and incubated with a factor VIII deficient substrate (normal plasma depleted of factor VIII by immunoadsorption) and an APTT reagent. After a specified incubation time, calcium is added to trigger the coagulation process in the mixture.  At which time, the time to clot formation is measured optically using a wavelength of 671 nm. (Owen CA Jr, Bowie EJW, Thompson JH Jr: Diagnosis of Bleeding Disorders. 2nd edition. Boston, MA, Little, Brown and Company, 1975)

 

The factor VIII inhibitor screen consists of measuring the difference in factor VIII activity (partial thromboplastin time assay) before and after incubation of a mixture of normal plasma and patient's plasma for 1 hour at 37 degrees C. For optimal sensitivity, the factor VIII value of the normal plasma is adjusted to approximately 20%, because the factor VIII assay is more sensitive in this area of the curve. In addition, an excess of patient's plasma will make the test more sensitive to small amounts of inhibitors. (Owen CA Jr, Bowie EJW, Thompson JH Jr: The Diagnosis of Bleeding Disorders. 2nd edition. Boston, MA, Little, Brown, and Company, 1975, pp 143-145)

 

If the inhibitor screen is positive for an inhibitor of factor VIII, the inhibitor will be quantitated by the Bethesda assay. In the Bethesda procedure, inhibitors are quantified by mixing equal volumes of serially diluted plasma with normal plasma. This mixture is incubated 2 hours at 37 degrees C, and its factor VIII activity is measured and compared to a control run at the same time. The difference between the factor VIII activity of the patient's incubation mixture and that of the control is used to calculate the titer. The residual factor VIII activity is converted to Bethesda units: 50% residual factor VIII is equal to 1 Bethesda unit. Assays using the same basic principle as the Bethesda assay are used to quantitate the inhibitors of the other coagulation factors. (Kasper CK, Aldedort LM, Counts RB, et al: A more uniform measurement of factor VIII inhibitors. Thromb Diath Haemorrh 1975;34:869-872)

Day(s) and Time(s) Test Performed Outlines the days and times the test is performed. This field reflects the day and time the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time required before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means assays are performed several times during the day.

Monday through Friday; Varies

Analytic Time Defines the amount of time it takes the laboratory to setup and perform the test. This is defined in number of days. The shortest interval of time expressed is "same day/1 day," which means the results may be available the same day that the sample is received in the testing laboratory. One day means results are available 1 day after the sample is received in the laboratory.

2 days

Maximum Laboratory Time Defines the maximum time from specimen receipt at Mayo Medical Laboratories until the release of the test result

3 days

Specimen Retention Time Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded

See individual unit codes

Performing Laboratory Location The location of the laboratory that performs the test

Rochester