An update on laboratory assessment for direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs)

The first direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) to be approved for clinical use was dabigatran, a direct thrombin inhibitor, in 2010. Since that time, four additional DOACs, all direct anti‐Xa inhibitors, have been approved, including rivaroxaban, apixaban, edoxaban and betrixaban. Our knowledge about the effect of DOACs on laboratory testing, as well as the use of the laboratory for measuring DOACs has been an evolving process. These drugs are not...