Lupus Anticoagulant
Private Lupus Anticoagulant blood test in London for £118, measuring one specialist clotting marker with results expected in around 5 days.
Turnaround time
5 business days
Biomarkers count
1
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Overview of the Lupus Anticoagulant
The Lupus Anticoagulant test is a specialist coagulation investigation used to detect phospholipid-dependent antibody activity associated with increased thrombosis risk.
The test contains 1 biomarker: Lupus Anticoagulant only.
Despite the word "anticoagulant", Lupus Anticoagulant is clinically associated more strongly with abnormal blood clotting than with excessive bleeding.
The name comes from the way these antibodies can prolong phospholipid-dependent clotting tests in the laboratory.
Lupus Anticoagulant belongs to the group of antiphospholipid antibodies associated with antiphospholipid syndrome, or APS.
APS is an autoimmune thrombophilia associated with venous thrombosis, arterial thrombosis and certain pregnancy complications.
Lupus Anticoagulant can also occur temporarily.
Infections, inflammatory states and some medicines may be associated with transient laboratory positivity.
This is why one positive test is not normally sufficient to establish persistent antiphospholipid antibody positivity.
Where APS is suspected, repeat positivity at least 12 weeks apart is generally required to demonstrate persistence in the appropriate clinical context.
Lupus Anticoagulant testing is also technically sensitive to anticoagulant medication.
Warfarin, unfractionated heparin, low-molecular-weight heparin and direct oral anticoagulants such as Apixaban or Rivaroxaban can interfere with clotting assays and make interpretation difficult.
Patients should never stop anticoagulant treatment independently for the purpose of testing.
The laboratory and requesting clinician need to know which anticoagulant is being taken.
Sample processing is also important because this is a citrate-plasma coagulation investigation rather than an ordinary serum antibody test.
What Does the Lupus Anticoagulant Test Check?
This test measures 1 biomarker.
Lupus Anticoagulant only
Uses specialist phospholipid-dependent coagulation assays to detect an antibody pattern associated with antiphospholipid syndrome and increased thrombotic risk.
Who May Benefit From the Lupus Anticoagulant Test?
Testing may be appropriate when unexplained thrombosis, recurrent pregnancy complications or an unexplained prolonged clotting assay raises suspicion of antiphospholipid antibodies.
People with an unexplained deep vein thrombosis - Lupus Anticoagulant can be one acquired risk factor for venous thrombosis.
People with an unexplained pulmonary embolism - APS may be considered when a significant clot occurs without an obvious provoking factor.
Younger people with unexplained stroke or arterial thrombosis - Antiphospholipid antibodies can contribute to arterial clotting.
People with recurrent pregnancy loss - APS is one recognised cause of recurrent pregnancy morbidity.
People with selected pregnancy complications related to placental dysfunction - Antiphospholipid antibodies may form part of a specialist obstetric assessment.
People with a persistently prolonged APTT without a bleeding history - Lupus Anticoagulant can prolong phospholipid-dependent clotting assays despite being associated with thrombosis.
People with systemic lupus erythematosus or another autoimmune condition - Antiphospholipid antibodies occur more frequently in selected autoimmune diseases.
People with a previous positive Lupus Anticoagulant result - Repeat testing after an appropriate interval can help establish persistence.
People specifically undergoing assessment for antiphospholipid syndrome - Lupus Anticoagulant forms one important component of APS laboratory testing.
How to Prepare
Do not stop anticoagulant medication without specialist advice.
Because the assay is sensitive to anticoagulant interference and specimen handling, the most appropriate collection route should be confirmed before booking.
Symptoms and Reasons to Consider the Lupus Anticoagulant Test
Lupus Anticoagulant itself does not cause a specific symptom. Symptoms arise when a clinically significant blood clot or pregnancy complication occurs.
Unexplained swelling and pain in one leg - This can occur with deep vein thrombosis and requires urgent assessment.
Sudden unexplained breathlessness - Pulmonary embolism is a medical emergency and can produce acute breathing difficulty.
Chest pain that worsens when breathing - This can occur with pulmonary embolism and needs urgent clinical evaluation.
A previous unexplained DVT or pulmonary embolism - APS may form part of a wider thrombophilia investigation.
Stroke or transient neurological symptoms at a relatively young age - Arterial thrombosis can prompt antiphospholipid antibody testing.
Repeated pregnancy loss - Persistent antiphospholipid antibodies are one possible contributor.
A prolonged APTT discovered unexpectedly - Lupus Anticoagulant is one potential explanation.
A previous transient positive Lupus Anticoagulant result - Repeat testing can determine whether the antibody effect remains present.
These symptoms and events have many possible causes, and Lupus Anticoagulant testing is only one part of thrombosis assessment.
Sudden breathlessness, chest pain, coughing blood, new unilateral leg swelling, facial weakness, speech difficulty or other symptoms of acute thrombosis require emergency medical assessment.
How to Book Your Lupus Anticoagulant Test
Lupus Anticoagulant requires specialist citrate-plasma handling.
Choose the Lupus Anticoagulant
Select the individual Lupus Anticoagulant test.
Select your sample collection option
Choose a collection route capable of meeting the specialist citrate processing and transport requirements.
Attend your appointment
A trained healthcare professional fills the required citrate tubes accurately and records relevant anticoagulant and clinical information.
Laboratory analysis
Your plasma undergoes specialist phospholipid-dependent coagulation testing for Lupus Anticoagulant.
Receive your results securely
Your authorised result is delivered securely for review with a GP, haematologist, rheumatologist or obstetric specialist where appropriate.
When Will I Receive My Results?
The current London Blood Tests turnaround for Lupus Anticoagulant is approximately 5 days after the required specimen reaches the laboratory.
This is a specialist coagulation investigation involving more than one simple antibody measurement.
The sample must be handled appropriately, analysed using validated phospholipid-dependent clotting procedures and reviewed before authorisation.
Citrate specimen quality is particularly important. An incorrectly filled tube, delayed processing or unsuitable anticoagulant interference can prevent reliable analysis or lead to a request for recollection.
When repeat testing is needed to establish persistent antiphospholipid antibody positivity, the repeat sample is generally collected at least 12 weeks after the original positive result and represents a separate episode of testing.
Understanding Your Results
A negative result means a Lupus Anticoagulant pattern was not demonstrated by the laboratory assays at the time of testing.
This reduces the likelihood of Lupus Anticoagulant positivity but does not exclude other antiphospholipid antibodies.
A positive result indicates that a phospholipid-dependent inhibitory pattern consistent with Lupus Anticoagulant has been detected.
This does not automatically diagnose antiphospholipid syndrome.
APS requires interpretation in relation to relevant clinical events, such as documented thrombosis or defined pregnancy morbidity, and persistence of the antibody finding.
Transient positivity can occur after infection or during inflammatory illness.
Anticoagulant medication can also complicate or distort the result.
Cardiolipin Antibodies and Beta-2 Glycoprotein I antibodies may provide complementary information in a complete antiphospholipid antibody assessment.
Treatment decisions should therefore be based on the clinical event history and complete antibody profile, not one laboratory result alone.
Why Book With London Blood Tests?
Private Lupus Anticoagulant testing in London - Access specialist coagulation testing privately.
Relevant to antiphospholipid syndrome - Lupus Anticoagulant is one of the principal laboratory markers used in APS assessment.
Useful after unexplained thrombosis - Testing can contribute to investigation of acquired clotting risk.
Relevant to recurrent pregnancy loss - APS is an important treatable consideration in selected pregnancy complications.
Specialist coagulation methodology - The assay is performed using phospholipid-dependent clotting procedures.
Appropriate specimen handling - Citrate collection and transport requirements can be planned correctly.
Secure reporting - Receive your authorised result securely.
Clear pricing - The Lupus Anticoagulant test costs £118.
Private Lupus Anticoagulant Blood Test in London
London Blood Tests provides private Lupus Anticoagulant testing in London for people requiring specialist assessment of antiphospholipid antibody activity.
The test costs £118 and measures one specialist coagulation biomarker.
Results are expected approximately 5 days after laboratory receipt.
The result should not be interpreted alone, particularly when anticoagulant medication, recent infection or suspected antiphospholipid syndrome is involved.