Evaluation of Activated Carbon Treatment on Overcoming the Interference of Rivaroxaban on the Detection of Functional Lupus Anticoagulant

<b><i>Objective:</i></b> The aim of this study was to review the role of activated carbon (AC) in eliminating the interference of rivaroxaban in the detection of lupus anticoagulants (LAs). <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Normal pooled plasma was obtained as group N1, group N2 took 1 mL plasma from N1 and added AC, group N3 was prepared by mixing normal plasma with rivaroxaban, and group N3 was treated with AC according to our procedure, as group N4. Plasma from 22 patients was collected before and 6–12 h after rivaroxaban therapy, described as group P1 and group P2, respectively, and 1 mL plasma was taken from group P2 and treated with AC, as group P3. Anti-Xa and diluted Russell’s viper venom time (dRVVT)/silica clotting time (SCT) index in each group were measured and compared. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Rivaroxaban concentrations and anti-Xa had high intercorrelations in group N3, and the levels of anti-Xa and dRVVT/SCT index had high intercorrelations. After treatment with AC, influence of rivaroxaban was removed, with LA and coagulation factor assays not influenced. Rivaroxaban administration could affect LA assay results in patients, with all LA results increased. After treatment with AC, results of anti-Xa and LA tests recovered to the level before rivaroxaban therapy. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> We proposed a reference procedure for the LA detection of patients using rivaroxaban by AC, and activated carbon was proven to be a simple product to eliminate the interference of rivaroxaban.