title: Diagnosis of von Willebrand disease in South Island, New Zealand.
abstract: New Zealand is a small country of two islands and 4 million people, of which 1 million reside in the South Island. Canterbury Health Laboratories provides laboratory services to the whole of South Island and lower parts of North Island. There are 155  Von Willebrand disease (VWD) patients in our South Island database, of which 17 have type 2 and 3 have type 3 VWD. A brief overview of diagnostic services for VWD being followed in our region is detailed in this article. We strive continually to advance the repertoire of diagnostic tests. We also present an analysis of our experience with a flow-based functional  Von Willebrand factor assay. The VWD patients are managed by hemostasis team members, who also provide screening and educational input to affected families. The Haemophilia Foundation of New Zealand is an active patient support group providing education and support both directed individually and in the group setting, through residential educational camps.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Canterbury District Health Board, Canterbury Health Laboratories, Christchurch, New Zealand. rrajeevdr@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Rajeev
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rajagopal
authors.forename: Mark P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D003894:Deamino Arginine Vasopressin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006490:Hemostatics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D009520:New Zealand; D014842:von Willebrand Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D006490:Hemostatics; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D003894:Deamino Arginine Vasopressin