Lupus Anticoagulant Blood Test is to investigate the cause of a blood clot (thrombotic episode); to evaluate a prolonged partial thromboplastin time (PTT); to help determine the cause of recurrent miscarriages, or as part of an evaluation for antiphospholipid syndrome; the tests are not used to diagnose the chronic autoimmune disorder systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), commonly known as lupus.
When you have had signs and symptoms of a blood clot in a vein or artery (known as thrombosis or thromboembolism); when you have a prolonged PTT test; when you have had recurrent miscarriages; this test is required.
If you have lupus or another autoimmune disease, and the test results are negative, your healthcare provider may want to repeat the test at a later date to determine if the anticoagulant antibodies have begun to develop. Normal values range from 20 to 39 GPL or MPL units.
