Antiphospholipid Antibody Panel (APH)

LAB2169

14890

Beta-2-Glycoprotein I Antibodies (IgG, IgA, IgM)
Phosphatidylserine/Prothrombin (PS/PT) Antibodies (IgG, IgM)
Cardiolipin Antibodies (IgA, IgG, IgM)

1 mL plasma collected in each of two 3.2% sodium citrate (light blue-top) tubes

0.5 mL each specimen

Serum collected in each of two separate tubes

Plasma (preferred): Centrifuge light blue-top tube 15 minutes at approximately 1500 x g within 60 minutes of collection. Using a plastic pipette, remove plasma, taking care to avoid the WBC/platelet buffy layer and place into a plastic vial.
Centrifuge a second time and transfer platelet-poor plasma into a new plastic vial. Plasma must be free of platelets (<10,000/mcL).

Serum: Centrifuge a red-top tube (no gel) or serum separator tube 15 minutes at approximately 1500 g within 24 hours of collection. Transfer serum into a plastic specimen vial.

Transport tube(s)

Room temperature

Room temperature: 5 days
Refrigerated: 14 days
Frozen: 30 days

Gross hemolysis • Grossly lipemic

See individual tests

The antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) is a clinical-pathologic correlation that includes a clinical event (e.g. arterial or venous thrombosis, pregnancy morbidity) and persistent positive antiphospholipid antibodies (IgM, IgG Cardiolipin or b2GPI antibodies greater than the 99th percentile; or a lupus anticoagulant). International consensus guidelines for APS suggest waiting at least 12 weeks before retesting to confirm antibody persistence. The Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics immunological classification criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) include testing for isotype IgA, which has yet to be incorporated into APS criteria. Low level antiphospholipid antibodies may sometimes be detected in the setting of infection, drug therapy or aging.

Note: Target-specific anticoagulant therapy (anti-Xa medications, direct thrombin inhibitors) may cause false positive results for Lupus anticoagulant testing but do not impact the Cardiolipin, B2GPI and Phosphatidylserine-Prothrombin antibody testing.