APTT vs Anti-factor Xa

Anticoagulation therapy and laboratory monitoring methods are rapidly evolving. Drug monitoring should provide a very useful and clinically effective means of determining an optimal dose regimen for each individual. The ideal assay for monitoring unfractionated heparin remains a subject of debate. However, one cannot ignore the drawbacks of the current and widely used method, the APTT. The anti-factor Xa assay has been gaining momentum recently, and is continuing to do so because of its advantages over APTT. There are studies that have demonstrated that anti-factor Xa actually saves the hospital money; and more importantly, is a valuable tool for optimal patient care management.This is through less patient testing and monitoring needed; consequently, fewer dose adjustments are done. Therefore, the patient is stabilized quicker and released from the hospital earlier.

Read more:
Laboratory Methods of Heparin Monitoring, Part 3