Table 4 Comparison and suitability of laboratory assays for monitoring novel oral anticoagulants [[89],[90]]
Agent | PT | Dilute PT | aPTT | ECT | HepTest | PiCT | Chromogenic assays | Preferred assay | Assays that may be used in the absence of preferred assay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rivaroxaban | Dose-dependent prolongation but results vary with thromboplastin reagent | Results vary as for PT | Not as sensitive as PT | NA | Dose-dependent response with short incubation time | Sensitive if incubation avoided and human Factor Xa used | Dose-dependent response with human Factor Xa and buffer | Factor Xa chromogenic assay (with appropriate calibration) | PT (Neoplastin) |
Apixaban | Prolongs PT but results may vary with thromboplastin reagent | More sensitive than PT | Other tests may be more sensitive | NA | Dose-dependent response and more sensitive than PT, dilute PT and aPTT | NR | Dose-dependent response | Rotachrom® Factor Xa chromogenic assay (with appropriate calibration) | Modified PT |
Dabigatran | Prolongs PT but insensitive and results may vary with thromboplastin reagent | NR | More sensitive than PT but results vary with different reagents | Prolongs ECT in a dose-dependent manner | Prolongs HepTest but may be unsuitable | Prolongs PiCT but insensitive at lower doses | In development | Hemoclot suggested | ECT, aPTT |