Cited by 48Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ResearchBlood Coagulation and Thrombosis MechanismsClinical Laboratory Practices and Quality Control

Clinical and laboratory practice for lupus anticoagulant testing: an International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis Scientific and Standardization Committee survey

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Cohen, Hannah, Mackie, Ian J., Devreese, Katrien M.J.·2019·Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis

Abstract

Background Current guidelines have contributed to more uniformity in the performance and interpretation of lupus anticoagulant (LA) testing. However, points to reconsider include testing for LA in patients on anticoagulation, cut-off values, and interpretation of results.Objectives The aim of this International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis Scientific and Standardization committee (ISTH SSC) questionnaire was to capture the spectrum of clinical and laboratory practice in LA detection, focusing on variability in practice, so that the responses could inform further ISTH SSC recommendations.Methods Members of the ISTH SSC on Lupus Anticoagulant/Antiphospholipid Antibodies and participants of the Lupus Anticoagulant/Antiphospholipid Antibodies Programme of the External quality Control of diagnostic Assays and Tests Foundation were invited to complete a questionnaire on LA testing that was placed on the ISTH website using RedCap, with data tallied using simple descriptive statistics.Results There was good agreement on several key recommendations in the ISTH and other guidelines on LA testing, such as sample processing, principles of testing, choice of tests, repeat testing to confirm persistent positivity and the use of interpretative reporting. However, the results highlight that there is less agreement on some other aspects, including the timing of testing in relation to thrombosis or pregnancy, testing in patients on anticoagulation, cut-off values, and calculation and interpretation of results.Conclusions Although some of the variability in practice in LA testing reflects the lack of substantive data to underpin evidence-based recommendations, a more uniform approach, based on further guidance, should reduce the inter-center variability of LA testing.

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  • Sample collection and processing as described in the 2009 ISTH-SSC guidelines is widely applied.

    “Sample collection and processing as described in the ISTH-SSC 2009 guidelines is widely applied.15”

    From Guidance from the Scientific and Standardization Committee for lupus anticoagulant/antiphospholipid antibodies of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (2020) · cites this paper as [15]

    The Essentials section reports that 86.8% of respondents agreed samples should be collected and processed in line with the 2009 guidelines. That supports broad acceptance of the procedures, but the survey response does not establish that they are widely applied in practice. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • The ISTH-SSC survey showed considerable lack of agreement on cutoff calculation: 79% calculated in-house cutoffs, but only 12% used more than 120 normal samples.

    “The ISTH-SSC survey showed a considerable lack of agreement on calculation of cutoff values, although 79% stated that they calculate their in-house cutoff values, but only 12% indicated use of >120 normals.15”

    From Guidance from the Scientific and Standardization Committee for lupus anticoagulant/antiphospholipid antibodies of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (2020) · cites this paper as [15]

    The 'Number of healthy adult donors for the preparation of in-house' section reports that 78.9% of laboratories calculated in-house cutoffs, and the discussion reports considerable disagreement about cutoffs. The 12% figure applies only to respondents who indicated use of the 99th centile, not to respondents overall; Figure 4B shows 4% selecting >120 donors in its broader question. (LLM, conf=0.89)

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  • Most laboratories calculate normalized ratios by dividing the patient's clotting time by the pooled normal plasma clotting time measured in the same run.

    “Normalized ratios calculated by dividing the clotting time of the patient by the clotting time of the PNP measured in the same run, as advised in the 2009 guidelines, is applied by the majority of laboratories.15”

    From Guidance from the Scientific and Standardization Committee for lupus anticoagulant/antiphospholipid antibodies of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (2020) · cites this paper as [15]

    In the section on normalized-ratio calculations (page not available), 65.7% of survey respondents said the denominator should be pooled normal plasma analyzed in the same run. That supports the majority and same-run aspects, but the passage reports what respondents said should be done, not that most laboratories actually use this calculation. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • An overwhelming majority of survey participants, 94.5%, supported the combination of APTT and dRVVT.

    “is supported by an overwhelming majority of participants (94.5%) of the survey reflecting daily practice.15”

    From Guidance from the Scientific and Standardization Committee for lupus anticoagulant/antiphospholipid antibodies of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (2020) · cites this paper as [15]

    In the survey’s LA testing passage (page not specified), 94.5% agreed that testing should include two phospholipid-dependent clotting tests based on different principles. The passage identifies dRVVT and APTT as tests used by many respondents, but does not say that 94.5% specifically supported their combination. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • The 99th centile was used by 50% of survey participants.

    “The 99th centile, chosen to avoid false positives, was applied by 50% of survey participants.15”

    From Guidance from the Scientific and Standardization Committee for lupus anticoagulant/antiphospholipid antibodies of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (2020) · cites this paper as [15]

    The cut-offs results (Figure 4A; page not provided) report that 50% of respondents said the cut-off for screen, mixing, and confirmatory tests should be above the 99th centile. That supports the percentage, but the question asked what the cut-off should be, not whether participants applied it; the paper also does not give avoiding false positives as their reason for choosing it. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Lockshin MD, Kim M, Laskin CA, Guerra M, Ware Branch D, Merrill J, et al. Lupus anticoagulant, but not anticardiolipoin antibody, pre- dicts adverse pregnancy outcome in patients with antiphospholipid antibodies. Arthritis Rheum. 2012;64:2311-8.

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Authors
Cohen, H., Mackie, I. J., & Devreese, K. M. J.
Affiliations
  • University College Hospital (GB)
  • University College London (GB)
  • Ghent University Hospital (BE)
Corresponding author
Cohen, Hannah
Venue
Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2019-10
Volume
17
Issue
10
Pages
1715-1732
ISSN
1538-7836 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2954422860
Cited by
48
References
42
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 2
FWCI
3.98
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University) (submittedVersion)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Rheumatology › Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Hematology › Blood Coagulation and Thrombosis Mechanisms
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Clinical Laboratory Practices and Quality Control
Keywords
antiphospholipid antibodies, clinical practice variation, anticoagulation, cut-off values, interpretation of results, external quality control, pregnancy, thrombosis, sample processing
MeSH terms
Blood Chemical Analysis, Humans, Predictive Value of Tests, Reproducibility of Results, Biomarkers, Observer Variation, Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor, Health Care Surveys, Healthcare Disparities, Clinical Laboratory Services

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