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Thromb Haemost 1987; 58(03): 879-883
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1646007
Original Article
Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart

Measurement of Low Molecular Weight Heparin Ex Vivo Activities in Clinical Laboratories Using Various Anti-Xa Assays: Interlaboratory Variability and Requirement for an Agreed Low Molecular Weight Heparin Standard

P Sié
1   The Haemostasis laboratories, Hôpital Purpan, Toulouse, France
*   who coordinated the study
,
M F Aillaud
2   The CHU La Timone, Marseille, Boulogne, France
,
D de Prost
3   The CHU Xavier-Bichat, Paris, Boulogne, France
,
C Droullé
4   The CHU Robert-Debré, Reims, Boulogne, France
,
F Forestier
5   The Hôpital Notre-Dame de Bon-Secours, Paris, Boulogne, France
,
P Guedj
6   The Hôpital de la Conception, Marseille, Boulogne, France
,
I Juhan-Vague
2   The CHU La Timone, Marseille, Boulogne, France
,
B Polack
7   The CHRU, Grenoble, Boulogne, France
,
G Potron
4   The CHU Robert-Debré, Reims, Boulogne, France
,
M Roncato
8   The Hôpital Broussais, Paris, Boulogne, France
,
J Roussi
9   The Hôpital Ambroise-Paré, Boulogne, France
,
J Sampol
6   The Hôpital de la Conception, Marseille, Boulogne, France
,
M Aiach
8   The Hôpital Broussais, Paris, Boulogne, France
*   who coordinated the study
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 12 March 1987

Accepted after revision 02 June 1987

Publication Date:
28 June 2018 (online)

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Summary

The only sensitive and convenient assay to assess the biological activity of low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs) is based on the potentiation of activated factor Xa inhibition. Several procedures for measuring the socalled anti Xa activity have been proposed. In this collaborative study including eight laboratories, we have used four different assays (three amidolytic and one clotting based methods) for measuring the anti Xa activity of ex vivo samples obtained after injecting three different LMWHs. The dispersion of the results obtained by calibration against standard heparin could be reduced by using any of the three LMWHs for calibration. A coefficient of variation less than 0.20 between values obtained in different laboratories using a variety of methods seems acceptable. However it is necessary to refer to a common international standard for expressing the results in units and to define, for each of the three products, the therapeutic range.

Keywords

Ex vivo anti-Xa activity - LMW heparins
 

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