Quantitative interpretation of optical density measurements using PF4-dependent enzyme-immunoassays

Background: Many laboratories test for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) using a PF4-dependent enzyme-immunoassay (EIA). An advantage of the EIA is its simplicity; a disadvantage is that it only indirectly detects heparin-dependent, platelet-activating antibodies ('HIT antibodies'). Objectives: To determine whether the magnitude of a positive EIA result, expressed in optical density (OD) units, predicts risk of HIT antibodies, defined as a strong-positive platelet serotonin-release assay (SRA) result (>= 50% serotonin release). Patients/methods: We determined the risk of a strong-positive SRA result for five categories of OD reactivity (< 0.40, 0.40-< 1.00, 1.00-< 1.40, 1.40-< 2.00, and >= 2.00 OD units) using two EIAs (commercial anti-PF4/polyanion IgG/A/M and in-house anti-PF4/heparin-IgG). Results: For patient sera investigated for HIT antibodies, a weak-positive result (0.40-< 1.00 OD units) in either EIA indicated a low probability (<= 5%) of a strong-positive SRA; the risk increased to similar to 90% with an OD >= 2.00 units. Quantifying the EIA-SRA relationship for 1553 referred patient sera, we found that for every increase of 0.50 OD units in the EIA-IgG, the risk of a strong-positive SRA result increased by OR = 6.39 [95% confidence interval (CI), 5.13, 7.95; P < 0.0001]. For every increase of 1.00 OD units in the EIA-IgG, the risk increased by OR = 40.81 (95% CI, 26.35, 63.20; P < 0.0001). Conclusions: The probability of HIT antibodies (strong-positive SRA result) inferred by a positive PF4-dependent EIA varies considerably in relation to the magnitude of the EIA result, expressed as OD values. In our laboratory, the probability of HIT antibodies being present reached >= 50% only when the OD level was >= 1.40 units.