From the Research
The Heparin Sensitivity (HS) test refers to a diagnostic test used to assess the sensitivity of patients to heparin, but based on the provided evidence, it is more accurately related to the differential agglutination test used in the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis, or a high specificity D-dimer test used in the assessment of pulmonary embolism. The HS test, in the context of toxoplasmosis, is part of the differential agglutination test (AC/HS test) that distinguishes between recently acquired and distant toxoplasma infections 1, 2. This test measures the agglutination of acetone-fixed (AC) and formalin-fixed (HS) tachyzoites by patient serum. The patterns of agglutination can indicate the stage of infection, with acute patterns observed early in infection and non-acute patterns observed later 2.
In another context, the HS test refers to a high specificity D-dimer test used to diagnose pulmonary embolism, which has been shown to have superior specificity compared to standard D-dimer tests without losing sensitivity 3, 4. This test can help reduce false positives and unnecessary diagnostic imaging.
Key points about the HS test include:
- It can be used in the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis to distinguish between recent and latent infections 1, 2
- It is also used as a high specificity D-dimer test for diagnosing pulmonary embolism 3, 4
- The test has different applications and interpretations depending on the context in which it is used
- The most recent and highest quality study on the topic should be consulted for the most accurate and up-to-date information 3