REAADS® Protein S Antigen
$0.00
REAADS® Protein S Antigen is an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the quantitative determination of Total and Free Protein S Antigen in citrated human plasma.
Reagents
- 12 x 8 anti-human Protein S antibody coated microwells
- 60ml Sample Diluent (blue-green solution); contains sodium azide.
- 3 vials x 0.5ml lyophilized Reference Plasma, with assay sheet.
- 12ml anti-human Protein S HRP Conjugate (red solution).
- 13ml Substrate (TMB and H2O2).
- 15ml Stopping Solution (0.36 N sulfuric acid).
- 30ml Wash Concentrate (33X PBS with 0.01% Tween 20). Note: turbidity may appear in wash concentrate which will not affect component performance and should disappear when working dilution is prepared.
- 2ml Free Protein S Reagent (PEG).
Store at 2 – 8°C. Do Not Freeze.
Materials Required but not Supplied
- Protein S Control Plasma (Total and/or Free). Reconstitute Control Plasma selected for use following manufacturer’s instructions, and store as recommended.
- Reagent grade water (1L) to prepare PBS/Tween wash solution, to reconstitute Reference Plasma, and to zero or blank the plate reader during the final assay step.
- Graduated cylinders
- Precision pipettors capable of delivering between 5 and 1000 microliters, with appropriate tips
- Miscellaneous glassware appropriate for small volume handling
- Flask or bottle, 1 liter
- Wash bottles, preferably with the tip partially cut back to provide a wide stream, or an automated or semi-automated washing system
- Disposable gloves, powder-free recommended
- Plate reading spectrophotometer capable of reading absorbance at 450nm (with a 650nm reference if available)
- Multichannel pipettors capable of delivering to 8 wells simultaneously
- Microdilution tubes for patient sample preparation
- Centrifuge
How is functional activity of protein S tested?
Many labs perform functional clotting assays to test free PS activity. These will detect PS deficiency, but will not discriminate between Types I, II, and III. Clotting tests utilize an excess of protein S deficient plasma, thereby keeping the amount of prothrombin essentially constant. APTT and PT methods commonly used. In a FXa based method, coagulation is triggered by FXa in the presence of calcium ions and phospholipids. This method is not currently used in routine settings, however.
Are elevated levels of Protein S clinically significant?
Though not as well studied as PS deficiency, there has been shown an associated between free and total PS with cholesterol and triglycerides. Though more studies are needed, preliminary findings suggest that elevated free PS may be associated with an increased risk of ischemic heart disease.
What are the different types of protein S deficiency?
The classification of PS deficiency is as follows:
Type 1: Low Protein S Ag Total, Low Protein S Ag Free, Low Protein S Activity
Type II: Normal PS Ag Total, Normal PS Ag Free, Low PS Activity
Type III: Normal PS Ag Total, Low PS Ag Free, Low PS Activity
Type II deficiency seems to be quite rare. Acquired PS is also possible, such as with liver disease, DIC, IBD, and APS. Some research suggests that free PS rather than total PS should be measured in the diagnosis of PS deficiency.
What is the clinical significance of Protein S?
Although the exact role of PS in vivo in the protein C anticoagulant pathway has not been clarified, there is no doubt that PS is an important anticoagulant protein and that PS deficiency is primarily associated with venous thromboembolism. The reported prevalence of PS deficiency in thrombosis patients varies between 1.5-7%, the difference being due to methods used and to the selection of patients. Clinical symptoms in patients affected with PS deficiency are very similar to those with protein C deficiency (DVT). Superficial thrombosis seems to be more common than for antithrombin deficient patients.
What is the interaction between Protein S and APC?
Only the free, native form of PS binds to APC and functions as a cofactor. PS has the highest affinity for negatively charged phospholipids of all the vitamin K-dependent proteins and has been shown to increase by approximately 10-fold, the affinity of APC for membranes or vesicles containing such phospholipids. This may be of physiological importance since APC degrades preferentially membrane-bound FVa and FVIIIa, but not the circulating, inactivated co-factors. In addition to increasing the affinity of APC to membranes, PS also enhances the cleavage of FVa by APC and works in concert with FV to increase the ability of APC to inactivate FVIIIa.
How do Protein S and APC interact?
Only the free, native form of PS binds to APC and functions as a cofactor. PS has the highest affinity for negatively charged phospholipids of all the vitamin K-dependent proteins and has been shown to increase by approximately 10-fold, the affinity of APC for membranes or vesicles containing such phospholipids. This may be of physiological importance since APC degrades preferentially membrane-bound FVa and FVIIIa, but not the circulating, inactivated co-factors. In addition to increasing the affinity of APC to membranes, PS also enhances the cleavage of FVa by APC and works in concert with FV to increase the ability of APC to inactivate FVIIIa.
Protein concentrations in plasma
| Component | Molecular Weight kDa | Plasma Concentration mg/l | Plasma Concentration μmol/l |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fibrinogen | 330 | 3000 | 9 |
| Prothrombin | 72 | 150 | 2 |
| Factor V | 330 | 20 | 0.05 |
| Factor VII | 50 | 0.5 | 0.01 |
| Factor VIII | 330 | 0.1 | 0.0003 |
| Factor IX | 56 | 5 | 0.09 |
| Factor X | 59 | 8 | 0.13 |
| Factor XI | 160 | 5 | 0.03 |
| Factor XII | 80 | 30 | 0.4 |
| Factor XIII | 320 | 10 | 0.03 |
| Protein C | 62 | 4 | 0.06 |
| Protein S | 70 | 10 (free) | 0.14 |
| Protein Z | 62 | 2 | 0.03 |
| Prekallikrein | 86 | 50 | 0.6 |
| HMW kininogen | 120 | 70 | 0.6 |
| Fibronectin | 450 | 300 | 0.7 |
| Plasminogen | 92 | 200 | 2 |
| t-PA | 60 | 0.005 | 0.0001 |
| Urokinase | 53 | 0.004 | 0.0001 |
| Antithrombin | 58 | 145 | 2.5 |
| Heparin Cofactor II | 66 | 80 | 1.2 |
| Plasmin Inhibitor | 63 | 60 | 1 |
| Protein C Inhibitor | 57 | 4 | 0.07 |
| α2-Macroglobulin | 725 | 2000 | 3 |
Advantages
- Total and Free protein S
- Convenient ELISA procedure
- Reagent complete kit – no extra expense for additional reagents – cost effective
- Six point reference curve
- Accurate measurement of a specific protein
- No reconstitution required, reducing risk of dilution errors
- Kit reagents optimized for more accurate results
- Plate and components are stable after opening through shelf-life – cost effective
- Calibrated for Protein C, S and vWF assays to ISTH standards and optimized for each lot for more accurate results
- Assay formats available for both manual and select automated platforms
- Total incubation time: 60 minutes
Principle
The REAADS® Protein S Antigen test kit is a double antibody capture assay for measuring total and free Protein S levels in human plasma, expressed in relative percent (%) of normal. The assay is intended to be used as an aid in the diagnosis of Protein S deficiency in patients with thrombotic disorders. The REAADS® Protein S Antigen test kit will accurately detect antigen levels as low as 5% of normal.
Procedure
Diluted citrated patient plasma is incubated in microwells coated with capture antibody specific for human Protein S, allowing patient Protein S to bind to the surface. The human Protein S detection antibody is added. After incubation, the wells are washed, substrate is added and color development is measured in a spectrophotometer at 450nm following the addition of a stop solution. Patient Protein S levels are determined from a six-point curve prepared from the reference plasma provided in the kit. Free Protein S levels can be measured simultaneously by testing samples that have been pretreated with PEG, following the same assay procedure. Total incubation time is 60 minutes.
Performance
Clinical Performance
Plasma samples from healthy blood donors and from patients with a history of thrombosis were tested to define and compare the clinical performance of REAADS® Protein S ELISA with a well established, commercially available Protein S Antigen Rocket EID method. As shown in the table, the results correlated well, and were shown to be statistically similar by single factor ANOVA.
| REAADS | Rocket EID | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Protein S | Healthy | Mean | 105% | 98% |
| Range | 64 – 150% | 65 – 143% | ||
| Patients | Mean | 59% | 58% | |
| Range | 23 – 140% | 23 – 148% | ||
| Free Protein S | Healthy | Mean | 97% | 102% |
| Range | 61 – 162% | 62 – 160% | ||
| Patients | Mean | 47% | 52% | |
| Range | 12 – 115% | 20 – 127% | ||
| Correlation (r) = 0.934; P value = 0.346 | ||||
Technical Performance
Intra-assay precision is 10.1% for REAADS® Total Protein S, and 6.6% for the Free Protein S assay. Inter-assay precision is 11.0% for Total, and 10.5% for Free Protein S. Linearity, expressed as the coefficient of determination (r2) is 0.985 for Total, and 0.992 for Free Protein S. Mean accuracy is 101% for Total, and 98% for Free Protein S assays. REAADS® Protein S ELISA is a rapid, convenient, highly accurate and precise method for the quantitative determination of Protein S levels in human plasma.
Background
Protein S is a vitamin K-dependent protein synthesized in the liver, vascular endothelium, and megakaryocytes, which plays an important physiologic role in the Protein C Anticoagulant System. This anticoagulant system is one of the major regulators of hemostasis by inhibiting clot formation and by promoting fibrinolysis. Protein S functions as a cofactor for activated Protein C on the vascular membrane to facilitate the degradation of clotting factors Va and VIIIa, down-regulating clot formation. In normal plasma approximately 40% of Protein S circulates as a free molecule, while 60% is complexed with C4b, a plasma protein of the classical complement pathway. Only Free Protein S is functionally active and able to bind to activated Protein C, while the complexed form of Protein S is not.
Protein S deficiency, either congenital or acquired, may lead to serious thrombotic events such as thrombophlebitis, deep vein thrombosis, or pulmonary embolism. The prevalence of Protein S deficiency has been estimated to be less than 1 case per 300 in the general population. Two-thirds of patients with a congenital deficiency of Protein S (levels less than 50% of normal) may present with venous thrombosis in young adulthood. In young patients (<35 years) with a history of thrombosis, the prevalence may be as high as 15 to 18%.7 Acquired Protein S deficiency may be seen during pregnancy, oral contraceptive or oral anticoagulant therapy, liver disease, diabetes mellitus, postoperative complications, septicemia and various inflammatory syndromes. A decreased Protein S activity in plasma may be the result of low concentrations or abnormal function of the Protein S molecule.
The laboratory diagnosis of Protein S deficiency may require both quantitative and qualitative (functional) determinations. Quantitative determinations of Protein S Antigen are based on immunologic procedures such as radial immunodiffusion in gel, Laurell rocket immunoelectrophoresis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).9,10 ELISA procedures are less labor intensive and offer several advantages including more objective, accurate and reproducible results. In addition, ELISA allows automation with commonly available laboratory instrumentation. Measurement of plasma levels of both Total and Free Protein S are useful to determine the type of defect in patients with Protein S deficiency.