Von Willebrand Factor Multimer Analysis

von Willebrand Factor (VWF) multimer proteins are separated according to their molecular weight by agarose gel electrophoresis, subjected to immunofixation with anti-VWF antiserum and visualized using peroxidase-labeled antibody.

The electrophoretic patterns of high, intermediate and low molecular weight multimers are analyzed and used in conjunction with other von Willebrand disease (VWD) tests (Factor 8 activity, VWF antigen and activity and collagen binding) to type/subtype VWD. The multimer test is also useful in suspected cases of acquired VWD and when results of other vWD tests (Factor VIII, VWF Antigen and Activity, VWF collagen binding) are abnormally low or discordant.