Comparison of Russell viper venom-based and activated partial thromboplastin time-based screening assays for resistance to activated protein C

Am J Clin Pathol. 2008 Nov;130(5):796-804. doi: 10.1309/AJCP7YBJ6URTVCWP.

Abstract

Thrombotic disease is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity, with an estimated lifetime risk of greater than 10% in Western populations. One of the most common hereditary thrombophilias is the factor V Leiden mutation, which is identified with a screening assay for activated protein C (APC) resistance and confirmed by DNA analysis. In this study, we compared the commercially available Pefakit (Pentapharm, Basel, Switzerland) and Cryocheck (Precision BioLogic, Dartmouth, Canada) assays, 2 recently developed Russell viper venom (RVV)-based screening tests, with the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)-based screening test currently used in our hospital's clinical laboratory. We found that the aPTT-based assay for resistance to APC had a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 70%, and a positive predictive value (PPV) of 70%, whereas both of the RVV-based assays exhibited high sensitivity, specificity, and PPV at 100%. In addition, we found that these new functional assays are more cost-effective relative to the screening algorithm previously used in our clinical laboratory and could potentially eliminate the need for DNA analysis, although further study is required.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Activated Protein C Resistance / diagnosis*
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Factor V / genetics
  • False Negative Reactions
  • False Positive Reactions
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Partial Thromboplastin Time / economics
  • Partial Thromboplastin Time / methods*
  • Prothrombin Time / economics
  • Prothrombin Time / methods*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • factor V Leiden
  • Factor V