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 include “lumiaggregometry” as a separate choice, though lumiaggregometry is often a channel added to LTA [LTLA] or WBA [WBLA]. As our poll system uses “forced choice,” Please choose “lumiaggregometry” if your instrument provides either LTLA or WBLA and add your comment below. The PFA-100 or the more recent PFA-200 [available outside the USA] is a screen often employed by acute care facilities that do not offer aggregometry and is considered to be an upgrade to the time-honored bleeding time [BT], though the BT remains available. If your facility uses a platelet function test not listed here, please add your comment.
References
- Fritsma GA, McGlasson DL. Whole Blood Aggregometry. In: Favaloro EJ, Lippi G (eds.), Hemostasis and Thrombosis: Methods and Protocols, Methods in Molecular Biology, vol. 1646, DOI 10.1007/978-1-4939-7196-1_26, © Springer Science+Business Media LLC 2017
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Favaloro EJ, Lippi G, Franchini M. Contemporary platelet function testing. Clin Chem Lab Med 2010; 48:579–98.
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Hayward CP, Favaloro EJ. Diagnostic evaluation of platelet disorders: the past, the present, and the future. Semin Thromb Hemost 2009;35:127–30.
HI, We offer PFA200 in 5 sites, though I note requests for PFA are declining. We also offer LTA done on Sysmex CS 5100. This has simplified the process, results often available in 30 min for all 6 agonists that we offer. Robyn Sullivan Nacolaides Pathology