New diagnostic strategies for lupus anticoagulants and antiphospholipid antibodies

Laboratories are currently challenged with the problem of ruling out APA in a patient plasmas. In order to optimize the identification of these antibodies, it is necessary to institute a well-planned approach. Both coagulation assays for the identification of LA and solid phase ELISA assays for the identification of ACA are indicated. In the case of LA, it is often necessary to screen the patient plasma with more than one test system. If two screening tests are negative, no further evaluation for the presence of LA is indicated. However, it is imperative to also perform ACA testing. The literature describing LA and ACA testing is growing exponentially. Several new integrated test systems which seek to simplify the approach to the diagnosis of LA have been introduced. These systems employ one test performed under two different conditions (low and high PL concentration). This approach may prove to be the most cost-efficient way of establishing the diagnosis of LA.