Quantitative detection of platelet aggregates in whole blood without fixation

Platelet counting detects lesser degrees of platelet aggregation than conventional aggregometry. In order to prevent progressive platelet aggregation or disaggregation after sampling it is customary to fix blood samples. However fixation may introduce other artefacts. We first compared stability of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Platelets (Edinburgh) 2000, Vol.11 (1), p.33-37
Main Authors: Muriithi, E W, Belcher, P R, Menys, V C, Chaudhry, M A, Raco, L, Day, S P, Wheatley, D J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Anticoagulants - pharmacology
Blood Physiological Phenomena - drug effects
Citric Acid - pharmacology
Coronary Artery Bypass
Edetic Acid - pharmacology
Female
Fixatives - pharmacology
Glutaral - pharmacology
Heparin - administration & dosage
Heparin - pharmacology
Hirudins - pharmacology
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Platelet Aggregation - drug effects
Platelet Count - drug effects
Time Factors
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Summary:Platelet counting detects lesser degrees of platelet aggregation than conventional aggregometry. In order to prevent progressive platelet aggregation or disaggregation after sampling it is customary to fix blood samples. However fixation may introduce other artefacts. We first compared stability of platelet counts in EDTA-, citrate- and r-hirudin-anticoagulated blood from healthy volunteers. Second, the stability of platelet counts in unfixed EDTA- and hirudin-anticoagulated blood was compared with glutaraldehyde-fixed blood in the same anticoagulants. Third, the effect of in vivo heparin administration on platelet counts in EDTA- and hirudin-anticoagulated blood was studied. Platelet counts within 2 h of collection were significantly higher in EDTA than in hirudin- or citrate-anticoagulated blood ( P =0.002 vs. hirudin and P =0.001 vs. citrate). Twenty-four hour counts in hirudin and EDTA were unchanged ( P =0.3 and P =0.2, respectively, vs. earlier counts). Counts in citrate increased significantly ( P =0.007; n =10). Platelet counts in fixed blood did not differ significantly from those in unfixed blood. Heparin administered for cardiopulmonary bypass reduced platelet counts in hirudin-anticoagulated blood from (mean +/-1 standard deviation) 180+/-45 to 162+/-30 x 10 9 l -1 ( P =0.01; n =14), without significantly lowering counts with EDTA-anticoagulation, consistent with increased platelet aggregation. Hirudin and EDTA provided stable platelet counts, suggesting that fixation is unecessary.
ISSN:0953-7104
1369-1635
DOI:10.1080/09537100075779