Testing for Coagulation Factor Deficiencies and Inhibitors

Laboratory testing for coagulation factor deficiencies and inhibitors is important for diagnosing and monitoring inherited and acquired coagulopathies and for evaluating the causes of coagulation screening test abnormalities. The webinar will cover strategies and pitfalls to consider and which assays should be performed to further evaluate test abnormalities, including assays for specific factor inhibitors. Real life cases, and illustrations of pre-analytical errors and interferences, will be used to illustrate important practice points. The different patterns and causes of abnormalities will be reviewed to ensure that laboratories consider all potential causes of abnormal findings.

Participants in this session will be able to:

• Differentiate which factor deficiencies are common and which are rare
• Describe what factor assays should be considered for a preoperative patient with a prolonged APTT, and which abnormalities are most common
• Describe how to test for a coagulation factor deficiency and a specific factor inhibitor
• Describe at least two pre-analytical errors that could cause test abnormalities that mimic a factor deficiency