'Antiphospholipid' (aPL) antibodies are a heterogenous group of autoantibodies that are now considered to be directed mainly to plasma proteins or protein-phospholipid complexes 1. Standardisation of assays for anticardiolipin (aCL) antibodies and lupus anti coagulants (LA) have been fraught with difficulty despite numerous attempts to perform this by International Standardisation Workshops and Committees.
Kandiah DA, Krilis SAImmunology and methods of detection of antiphospholipid antibodies . In The Antiphospholipid Syndome. Asherson RA, Cervera R, Piette J-C, Shoenfeld Y (eds). CRC PressBoca Raton, 1996; 29-48.
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Harris EN, Pierangeli S., Birch D.Anticardiolipin wet workshop report (Fifth International Symposium on Antiphospholipid Antibodies). Am J Clin Pathol1994; 101: 616-624.
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Homburger HA , Paton MLInterlaboratory comparison of immunoassays for anti-cardiolipin antibodies: results of the College of American Pathologists S2 Survey. Lupus1994; 3: 363 (Abstract 203).
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Reber G. et al. Multicenter evaluation of nine commercial kits for the quantitation of anticardiolipin antibodies. Thromb. Haemostasis1995; 73: 444-452.
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Tsutsumi A. et al. Antibodies to 'altered' β2-glycoprotein I and clinical manifestations in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis & Rheumatism1996 (in press).
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Aoki K. et al. Clinical significance of β2-glycoprotein I-dependent anticardiolipin antibodies in the reproductive autoimmune failure syndrome: Correlation with conventional antiphospholipid antibody detection systems . Am J Obstet Gynae1995; 172: 926-931.
Triplett DA, Stocker KF, Unger GA, Barna LKThe Textarin/ Ecarin ratio: a confirmatory test for lupus anticoagulants . Thromb Haemostasis1993; 70: 925-931.
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Rooney AM, McNally T., Mackie IJ, Machin SJThe Taipan snake venom time: a new test for lupus anticoagulant. J Clin Pathol1994; 47: 497-501.
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Brandt JT, Triplett DA, Alving B., Scharrer I.Criteria for the diagnosis of lupus anticoagulants: An update. Thromb . Haemostasis1995; 74: 1185-1190.
