Determination of factor VIII-related antigen using commercial antisera

Commercially available antiserum to factor VIII was used in several tests to determine whether it might serve as a reference between research laboratories involved in investigation of the factor VIII complex and whether the antiserum might be useful in the screening of large populations of patients with hereditary disorders of factor VIII. In Ouchterlony plates, the antiserum gave a single line of identity with concentrated factor VIII, cryoprecipitate, and human plasma. The antiserum was capable of inhibiting the ristocetin response of normal platelets. Testing antigenic factor VIII by the Laurell technic with the commercial antiserum on plasmas from normal and stressed normal controls, patients with von Willebrand's disease, patients with hemophilia A, and obligate carriers of hemophilia A gave diagnostic and reproducible results.