Patent ID: 7939277
Filing Date: 2011-05-10
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. Method for distinguishing between different states or forms of diseases and disorders characterized by thrombocytopenia and/or by spontaneous interaction between Von Willebrand Factor (vWF) and platelets, and/or to predict the progression of such a disease or disorder, said method comprising the steps of: a) providing at least one biological sample obtained from a patient suffering from, or suspected to suffer from, at least one disease or disorder characterized by thrombocytopenia and/or by spontaneous interaction between Von Willebrand Factor (vWF) and platelets; b) determining the amount of vWF in a GpIb binding conformation in said biological sample; in which the amount of vWF in a GpIb binding conformation in the sample is representative for the different states or forms of the disease or disorder, in which the amount of vWF in the GpIb binding conformation is determined by contacting the biological sample with a binding agent that specifically binds vWF in the GpIb binding conformation in the presence of vWF in the non-GpIb binding conformation and then optionally determining the amount of vWF in the GpIb binding conformation bound to the binding agent.