Detection of von-Willebrand factor (vWF) activity
AssigneeK.U. Leuven Research & Development
InventorsNancy Cauwenberghs, Karen Vanhoorelbeke, Hans Deckmyn
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a method for detecting von-Willebrand factor (vWF) activity comprising assaying a sample in the presence of a soluble form or portion of glycoprotein Ib(α) (GPIb(α) and ristocetin, or a functionally equivalent substance. Additionally, the invention relates to the use of the aforementioned soluble form or portion of glycoprotein Ib(α), of ristocetin or a functional equivalent substance, of specifically reacting anti-GPIB(α) antibody(ies) and/or of specific binding partners, like specifically reacting anti-vWF antibody(ies) for carrying out the method of the invention. Furthermore, the present invention relates to kits for carrying out the method of the invention.
Claims21
A method for discriminating between types of von-Willebrand disease using a von-Willebrand factor (vWF) binding activity, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) detecting the binding activity of vWF in a sample to a soluble form or a portion of glycoprotein 1b(α) (GP1b(α)) that is not associated with a platelet in the presence of ristocetin or a functionally equivalent substance, wherein the soluble form or portion of GP1b(a) is presented by an anti-GP1b(α) antibody;
- (b) determining an amount of vWF-antigen in said sample;
- (c) determining a ratio between the binding activity detected under step (a) and the amount of vWF-antigen determined under step (b) for said sample;
- (d) comparing the ratio obtained under (c) to a reference range;
- and
- (e) discriminating between types of von-Willebrand disease based using the comparison result obtained under step (d).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.