“Labs are always looking to improve their work flow,” notes Hamid Erfanian, Stago’s Director of Marketing. “This new format for the anti-Xa assay provides a way to increase the ease of use of this already popular assay.”
Unlike the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), the conventional method for heparin monitoring, the anti-Xa method is much more specific and sensitive, resulting in time savings for not only the lab, but also the phlebotomy, pharmacy, and nursing staff due to decreased frequency of patient sample draw, preparation, and dosing changes. With the anti-Xa assay, not only do patients move into the therapeutic range more quickly, but this is achieved with less testing and fewer blood draws, that can harm a patient or hospital worker (1, 2). Additionally, patients monitored with the anti-Xa assay experience a lower risk of bleeding and thrombus recurrence (1). Importantly, the anti-Xa method is insensitive to low factor levels, lupus anticoagulants, vitamin K antagonists, and acute phase reactions.
Once put into use, one 4 or 8 mL vial of this new product is good for 7-8 days on board the STA® line of automated coagulation analyzers. In addition, when paired with the proper calibrator and control combination, the working range of the assay is 0.1 – 1.1 or 0.1 – 2 IU/mL for unfractionated or low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), respectively. The calibrator products for use with the liquid anti-Xa assay have three levels included, and the control products have two each for unfractionated or LMWH. These product features translate into a wide working range for the customer, preventing redilutions. In addition, the barcoding on the reagent vials prevent transcription errors during use.
The liquid format anti-Xa assay is approved for clinical use only in Canada, and not in the United States.
About Diagnostica Stago, Inc.
Diagnostica Stago, Inc. is the exclusive provider of the Diagnostica Stago Hemostasis product lines in the United States and offers a complete system of coagulation instruments and optimized reagent kits for research as well as for routine analysis. Diagnostica Stago, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of Diagnostica Stago, S.A.S. France, a leader in the development and manufacture of Hemostasis products. For more information about any Stago product or service, please call 800-222-COAG or visit our website at www.stago-us.com.
1. Levine MN, Hirsh J, Gent M, et al. A randomized trial comparing activated thromboplastin time with heparin assay in patients with acute venous thromboembolism requiring large daily doses of heparin. Arch Intern Med. 1994;154:49-56.
2. Rosborough TK. Monitoring unfractionated heparin therapy with antifactor Xa activity results in fewer monitoring tests and dosage changes than monitoring with the activated partial thromboplastin time. Pharmacotherapy. 1999;19(6):760-766.
Contacts:
Hamid Erfanian, Director of Marketing
Diagnostica Stago, Inc.
(973) 867-2042
Hamid.Erfanian@us.stago.com