[An international attempt for standardization on terminology and methodology in hemostasis and thrombosis]

Scientific and Standardization Committee (SSC) of International Thrombosis and Hemostasis has acted its activity since 1955 for establishing international concept on terminology, methodology in the fields of blood platelets, coagulation and fibrinolysis. Among the reports from 15 sub-committee in 1993 meeting, some clinically interesting topics are reported. In von Willebrand factor (vWF) Subcommittee, new classification of von Willebrand disease including new variant of VFW which shows defect on factor VIII binding capacity, is proposed. In Control of Anticoagulation Subcommittee, the necessity of coagulation monitoring during low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) administration was discussed. For prophylaxis use, monitoring is unnecessary except patients having renal failure or high-low body weight. For the treatment of venous thrombosis once or twice monitoring every 10 days would be necessary. In Lupus anticoagulant (LA)/phospholipid dependent antibodies Subcommittee, results of 3rd international survey for LA sent to 38 laboratories in 16 countries including Japan were reported. Most laboratory used APTT and dRVVT simultaneously as screening tests. Sensitivity and specificity of confirmatory test for LA are compared; the best one was Staclot LA and the second was DVVT.