Assessing nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in the laboratory

Abstract

Nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are being used with increasing frequency due to their safety profile, ease of use, and given that therapeutic monitoring is not required. As these agents have only recently been FDA approved, their effect on routine and specialty coagulation assays is not well appreciated. This article discusses NOAC effect on routine coagulation assays and whether these assays can be used to estimate drug concentration as well as which assays are suitable to quantitate drug concentration in plasma. Also reviewed is the use of manufactured drug calibrators to determine reagent responsiveness and the effect of these agents on various special coagulation assays.