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Russell's viper, Daboia russelii Dilute Russell's viper venom time (dRVVT) is a laboratory test often used for detection of lupus anticoagulant (LA). It is an assessment of the time for blood to clot in the presence of a diluted amount of venom from Russell's viper (Daboia russelii), a highly venomous snake native to the Indian subcontinent and named after the herpetologist Patrick Russell.
KCT is similar to the activated partial thromboplastin time test, except it does not use exogenous phospholipid. [2] Thus, a confirmatory test that uses excess phospholipid is needed to validate the presence of lupus anticoagulants. [2] Otherwise, diluting the test plasma in normal plasma before testing provides characteristic mixing patterns. [8]
The main indication for testing for lupus anticoagulant is a suspected antiphospholipid syndrome, whose main manifestations are blood clots in both arteries and veins as well as pregnancy-related complications such as miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm delivery, and severe preeclampsia. [8]
Mixing studies are tests performed on blood plasma of patients or test subjects to distinguish factor deficiencies from factor inhibitors, such as lupus anticoagulant, or specific factor inhibitors, such as antibodies directed against factor VIII. [1] Mixing studies are screening tests widely performed in coagulation laboratories.
Antinuclear antibody (ANA) testing and anti-extractable nuclear antigen form the mainstay of serologic testing for SLE. ANA testing for lupus is highly sensitive, with the vast majority of individuals with Lupus testing positive; but the test is not specific, as a positive result may or may not be indicative of Lupus. [100]
Blood tests such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunofluorescence are routinely performed to detect anti-dsDNA antibodies in diagnostic laboratories. They are highly diagnostic of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and are implicated in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis. [1] [2]
The presence of ANAs in blood can be confirmed by a screening test. Although there are many tests for the detection of ANAs, the most common tests used for screening are indirect immunofluorescence and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). [50] Following detection of ANAs, various subtypes are determined. [8]
Autoantibody tests may be ordered as part of an investigation of chronic progressive arthritis type symptoms and/or unexplained fevers, fatigue, muscle weakness and rashes. The antinuclear antibody (ANA) test is often ordered first. ANA is a marker of the autoimmune process – it is positive with a variety of different autoimmune diseases but ...