Platelet Function Testing

A Molecular Approach to Assess Platelet Hyperreactivity

Friend Ed Groenendal forwarded this UPI summary of a molecular approach correlating evidence of hyperresponsive platelets to major adverse cardiac or limb events. The investigators started with aggregometry-defined platelet hyperreactivity to apply a transcriptome-based platelet reactivity expression score (PRESS). Click below to see the detailed open-access article describing the development and application of the PRESS. […]

Antiplatelet Therapy

May 2024: QQ Poll: Trigger Point for PLT Concentrate Therapy

Our May 2024 Quick Question asks, “Below what PLT count limit do you provide PLT concentrate?” Please show us your facility’s PLT count limit and add a comment below or using the Questions or Comments box.

Bleeding Disorders

April 2024 QQ Summary: MYH9 Mutation

Our April 2024 Quick Question, “What PLT production abnormality is an MYH9 gene mutation?” attracted 26 responses. Here’s the distribution: Thrombocytopenia with absent radii [TAR]: 4 [15%] Bernard-Soulier syndrome [BSS]: 2 [7%] Immune thrombocytopenia [ITP]: 1 [4%] Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome: 1 [4%] May-Hegglin disorder: 18 [70%] The production abnormalities are associated with mild to severe bleeding. […]

Bleeding Disorders

April 2024 QQ: MYH9 Mutation

Molecular diagnostic methods have defined scores of platelet disorders that by phenotype alone were categorized as production or functional disorders. Our April 2024 Quick Question is a quiz that “scratches the surface” by asking what disorder or syndrome is part of the MYH9 gene mutation family. For a look at molecular diagnostics practical applications, see […]

Platelet Function Testing

Lab Assays to Detect Occult Cancer in VTE

Here is a provocative article whose investigators looked for lab assays to detect cancer in patients with unprovoked venous thromboembolism: Sánchez-López V, Marín-Romero S, Ferrer-Galván M, et all. Occult cancer in patients with unprovoked venous thromboembolism: A nested case-control study. Am J Clin Pathol. 2024:aqad178. doi: 10.1093/ajcp/aqad178. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38340336.

January 2024 Quick Question Response: Platelet Function Tests

Fritsma Factor’s January 2024 Quick Question asks, “What platelet function test do you use?” Our 43 participants responded… Light transmittance aggregometry: 15 [35%] Whole blood aggregometry: 7 [16%] Lumiaggregometry: 8 [19%] Bleeding time: 0 PFA 100/200: 13 [30%] Presuming that those who chose the lumiaggregometry entry perform theirs on an impedance-based whole blood aggregometer, we […]

Quick Question Archive

January 2024 Quick Question: Platelet Function Tests

Our January 2024 question is a poll submitted by Dave McGlasson, asking, “What platelet function test do you use?” While light transmittance aggregometry [LTA] has been available since the mid-1960s and is regarded by many as the reference method for platelet function testing, many have switched to the simpler whole blood aggregometry [WBA]. Our answers […]

Bleeding Disorders

ISTH Releases Management of Chemotherapy-induced Thrombocytopenia

The ISTH Subcommittee on Hemostasis & Malignancy just released the following guidelines. Soff G, Leader A, Al-Samkari H, et al.. Management of chemotherapy induced thrombocytopenia: Guidance from the ISTH Subcommittee on Hemostasis & Malignancy. J Thromb Haemost. 2023;10:S1538-7836(23)00734-1. doi: 10.1016/j.jtha.2023.09.031. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37827380.

Platelet Function Testing

November 2023 QQ: Platelet Hyperaggregability

Our November Quick Question is another poll, this time in response to our provocative October 4, 2023 discussion, initiated by Dr. Mayukh Sarkar, entitled “Sticky Platelet Syndrome.” The question asks, “Do you test for platelet hyperaggregation?” As always, please answer the poll and then post your written opinion in the “Comments” section below.

Quick Question Archive

Sticky Platelet Syndrome

On 10-4-23 Mayukh Sarker, PhD asked, “At the October 4–6 Mayo conference someone asked. ‘what is sticky platelet syndrome, and can it be defined and diagnosed?’ The consensus was no, it was an “old school” thought but it currently can’t be diagnosed clinically or by the laboratory. What are your thoughts on this?” On 10-5-23 […]

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George Fritsma is a medical laboratory scientist, educator, and author. George holds faculty appointments with Rutgers University and Michigan State University, and is a member of the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis, American Association of Clinical Chemists, and American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science.

Cheat Sheets from George

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