Problems relating to the laboratory diagnosis of factor XIII deficiency: a UK NEQAS study

Familial (F)XIII deficiency is an extremely rare bleeding disorder. In most laboratories the diagnosis is initially established through a clot-solubility screening test. We report here results from a series of UK NEQAS (Blood Coagulation). Proficiency Testing investigations, in which laboratories were provided with samples from normal individuals and from various subjects with FXIII deficiency with a request to perform their usual test for this disorder and to provide an interpretation of their results. Over 95% of centers were able to diagnose severe familial FXIII deficiency in previously untreated patients and to identify samples from normal subjects. However, both quantitative and qualitative methods produced widely variable results on samples obtained from previously treated individuals with FXIII deficiency but having measurable levels of FXIII. Data generated by UK NEQAS investigations suggested that solubility tests employing thrombin show greater sensitivity to FXIII deficiency, and this was confirmed in a subsequent single-center study. Our results lead us to recommend the use of thrombin and acetic acid in the clot-solubility screening test. Use of sensitive screening tests, and improvement in the accuracy and precision of quantitative FXIII assays will aid study of the clinical importance of moderate FXIII deficiency.