The University of Iowa (UIHC)
Department of Pathology
LABORATORY SERVICES HANDBOOK


Warfarin Sensitivity
Order Code: WARFSENS
Epic Lab Code: LAB4275
Order Form: A-1a Miscellaneous Request or Epic Req
  Commercial "Mail-out" Laboratory
6240 RCP
356-3527
Specimen:
Whole Blood
Collection Medium:
Lavender top tube (EDTA)
Alternate
Collection Media:
Pink top tube (EDTA sprayed)
Minimum:
Adult preferred minimum: 3 mL whole blood in lavendar top (EDTA) tube
Adult absolute minimum: 1 mL whole blood in lavendar top (EDTA) tube
Pediatric absolute minimum: 1 mL whole blood in lavendar top (EDTA)
                            tube
Testing Schedule:
Testing performed Mondays and Thursdays at reference laboratory.
Analytic Time:
One week upon receipt at reference laboratory.
Reference Range:
By report.
Interpretive Data:
Background Information for Warfarin Sensitivity (CYP2C9 & VKORC1) 3 
Mutations

Characteristics: Warfarin overdosing can result in life-threatening 
events, e.g., bleeding. This test does not identify patients at risk 
for warfarin resistance.

Incidence: Up to 1 percent mortality and 15 percent morbidity due to 
bleeding complications.

Cause: Mutations in the CYP2C9 and VKORC1 genes. The common CYP2C9 gene 
mutations (*2 and *3) with the VKORC1 gene promoter mutation
(c.-1639G>A), are estimated to account for 40-63 percent of the 
variability in therapeutic warfarin dose.

Mutations Tested: CYP2C9 *2 (c.430C>T), CYP2C9 *3 (c.1075A>C), VKORC1 
(c.-1639G>A).

Allele Frequencies: CYP2C9 *2, 0.08-0.13, 0.02-0.06, and less than 
0.01; CYP2C9 *3, 0.06-0.10, less than 0.1, and 0.01-0.04; VKORC1
(c.-1639G>A), 0.42, 0.89, and 0.08 in Caucasian, Asian, and 
African-American populations, respectively. Other populations are less 
well characterized. The VKORC1 (c.-1639G>A) is in very strong linkage 
disequilibrium with the VKORC1 (c.173+1000C>T).

Clinical Sensitivity: 90 percent of CYP2C9 and VKORC1 mutations causing 
warfarin sensitivity in Caucasians are detected. Less characterized in 
other populations.
Comments:
Counseling and informed consent are recommended for genetic testing.

Please refer to the Informed Consent for Molecular Genetic Testing
Test
Limitations:
Mutations other than those targeted will not be detected; analytical 
sensitivity may be compromised by rare primer or probe site mutations.

This test is performed pursuant to an agreement with Roche Molecular 
Systems, Inc.
Methodology:
Polymerase chain reaction followed by unlabeled probe and melting curve 
analysis.
CPT Code:
83891 Isolation; 83898(x3) Amplification; 83896(x3) Nucleic acid 
probes; 83912 Interpretation and report. Additional CPT code modifiers 
may be required for procedures performed to test for oncologic or 
inherited disorders.

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Updated: 08/06/2009

Note: The information contained in this handbook is for use by personnel of University of Iowa Health Care. No other use is implied or intended.