Lab Guide
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Test ID: BIA Anti-Factor FVIII
Bethesda Inhibitor Assay Anti-Factor FVIII
Useful For

To detect and determine the presence and titer of  a specific factor inhibitor directed against coagulation factor VIII.

Method name and description

Turbidimetric
Test is performed using Sysmex CS5100.The Bethesda assay is based on the ability of the patient’s plasma containing factor VIII inhibitor to inactivate factor VIII present in normal pooled plasma (NPP). Dilutions of the patient’s plasma are incubated with NPP for 2 hours at 37 ºC, and then the residual factor VIII is measured. Although the Bethesda assay is commonly performed for detection of an inhibitor to factor VIII,  it can also be used to quantify inhibitors to factor V and factors IX, X, XI and XII
Inhibitors are measured in Bethesda Units (BU). One BU is defined as the quantity of inhibitor that neutralizes 50% of the factor VIII in normal plasma in 2 hours at 37ºC.

Reporting name

BIA inhibitors Anti- FVIII

Clinical information

Significant bleeding can result from the presence of a coagulation factor inhibitor and could be life-threatening. Whether the inhibitor is present due to hemophilia or of an acquired nature, it greatly complicates the treatment process of a decreased factor level. The titer of the inhibitor may determine the mode of treatment. Bethesda units are a standardization to give a uniform definition of an inhibitor.

Specimen type / Specimen volume / Specimen container

Plasma Na Cit. Platelet-poor plasma.
Specimen Volume:2.7 ml.
Container/Tube: Light-blue top (citrate)

Collection instructions / Special Precautions / Timing of collection

Sample collected in  HMC facilities/others and transported to the lab within 1hour :
•    Collect sample into light blue-top (sodium citrate).
•    Tubes must be filled to within +/- 10% of their proper volume, to provide a 9:1 ratio of blood to citrate.
2-    Samples collected in  HMC facilities  / others  and which are   expected not to reach the lab within  1hour:

•    Centrifuge the whole blood and carefully remove the plasma by pipette not by decanting   and send the plasma  in a temperature-controlled environment (18-25ºC ) within one hour of centrifugation. 
•     If the transportation of  the plasma can’t be within a maximum of  2hour , prepare platelet-poor plasma  as follow:
A:    Re-centrifuge plasma again.
B:    Remove the top portion of plasma leaving approximately 250 mcL in the bottom to discard.
C:    The double-centrifuged plasma should be aliquoted (0.5 to 1 mL per aliquot) into labeled plastic tubes. The number of tests ordered will determine the aliquots needed.
D:    Freeze immediately at -20 ºC or below  .
E:    Specimens must arrive frozen.
3-    Sample for Platelets function studies (Platelets function assay) , Citrated whole blood should reach HMC within a maximum of 1-2 hours of collection.
4-     For heparin monitoring, follow the above mentioned steps.
5-    Consider patient HCT %. , if HCT is >55%, the volume of anticoagulant in the tube must  be adjusted by the referring  lab, as per  the below table shows the volume of citrate (µL) to be removed from common sizes of coagulation specimen tubes prior to specimen collection. After removal of the specified volume of citrate, enough blood is added to fill the tube to the ideal volume. 

Hematocrit % Volume to be removed, µL
2.7 ml Tube 1.0 ml Tube
56 50 20
57 50 20
58 60 20
59 60 20
60 70 30
61 70 30
62 80 30
63 80 30
64 90 30
65 90 30
66 100 40
67 100 40
68 110 40
69 110 40
70 120 40
71 120 40
72 130 50
73 130 50
74 140 50
75 140 50
76 150 50
77 150 60
78 160 60
79 160 60
80 170 60
Relevant clinical information to be provided

Patient/family history of bleeding  disorder. History of anticoagulant therapy. History of chronic diseases

Storage and transport instructions

Ambient

Specimen Rejection Criteria

Specimens with no label or missing required identification
Broken, leaking or contaminated specimen
Clotted samples 
Under-filled or overfilled sample tubes.
Wrong sample container sample received
Improper specimen transport temperature (e.g. like specimens which are  needed to be sent on ice)
Old specimen (test-dependent) 
Grossly Hemolyzed sample (test-dependent)                                          

Biological reference intervals and clinical decision values

0.0 unit

Factors affecting test performance and result interpretation

No interference up to:
Triglycerides 3028 mg/dL.
Hemoglobin 200 mg/dL.
Bilirubin 48 mg/dL.

Turnaround time / Days and times test performed / Specimen retention time

For routine ordered test : 3 working days

For stat ordered test :

  • During the Laboratory working hours from 0700 hours to 1500 hours (Sunday to Thursday): TAT is Within 8hrs.
  • After duty hours, weekends and on holidays: TAT is within  12 hrs. with the following requirements:
  • Laboratory should  be notified by telephone about the sending  of a STAT sample.
  • The sample should  be hand-delivered to the central processing area and requesting  them to deliver it immediately to the hematology coagulation lab.

 Test is done : Daily.

Specimen retention time: NA