COAGULATION CONSULTATION, VON WILLEBRAND DISEASE, PLASMA
Marquette General Health System

General Info

Alpha Code

   VWS

MGH LIS Test No

   574

Schedule

   Varies

Testing Time

   Varies

Testing Lab

   Mayo Labs

QORR Test Code

   VWS

Specimen Info

Type

      

Volume

    

Temperature

   Frozen

Preservative

    

Collection Info

   1. Draw blood in light blue-top tube(s).  Spin down, remove plasma,
   spin plasma again, and place 3.0 mL of citrate platelet-poor
   plasma into 3 plastic vials each containing 1.0 mL.  (Glass vials
   cannot be accepted).
   NOTE: A. Patient should not be receiving Coumadin or heparin.
         B. Double-centrifuged specimens are critical for accurate
            results as platelet contamination may cause spurious
            results.
2. Freeze patient specimens immediately at < or = -40
   degrees C, if possible.
3. Send specimens frozen on dry ice in the same
   shipping container.
 
Specimen Acceptability

Methods
Useful for detection of deficiency/abnormality of von Willebrand factor (vWF) antigen and related deficiency of factor VIII coagulant activity and for subtyping von Willebrand disease (vWD) as Type I (most common), Type II (less common), or Type III (rare). Differentiating Type I from Types II or III vWD is important for treatment decisions (e.g., DDAVP or desmopressin may be of no benefit, or even harmful in the latter types). Patient should not be receiving Coumadin or heparin. If so, this should be noted (heparin or warfarin therapy can affect certain coagulation factors or assays, preclude their performance, or cause spurious results). Testing will include factor VIII activity assay, vWF antigen, and ristocetin cofactor assay with vWF multimer analysis if needed to define type of vWD. The latter will be performed if vWF antigen or ristocetin cofactor are decreased.

Clinical Utilities

CPT Codes
85247, 85245, 85246

Reference Range
An interpretation will be provided.      

Component Information

Collection Notes

Additional Comments

 

Questions or Comments email support@mgh.org

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