Description of an In Vitro Platelet Function Analyzer—PFA-100™^[*]

Abstract

This manuscript represents a republication of a manuscript originally published in STH in 1995. This republication is to help celebrate 50 years of publishing for STH. The original abstract follows.

A new in vitro system for the detection of platelet dysfunction, PFA-100®, has been developed. It provides a quantitative measure of platelet function in anticoagulated whole blood. The system comprises a microprocessor-controlled instrument and a disposable test cartridge containing a biologically active membrane. The instrument aspirates a blood sample under constant vacuum from the sample reservoir through a capillary and a microscopic aperture cut into the membrane. The membrane is coated with collagen and epinephrine or adenosine 5′-diphosphate. The presence of these biochemical stimuli, and the high shear rates generated under the standardized flow conditions, result in platelet attachment, activation, and aggregation, slowly building a stable platelet plug at the aperture. The time required to obtain full occlusion of the aperture is reported as the “closure time.” We have found that impairment of von Willebrand factor, or inhibition of platelet receptors glycoprotein Ib or IIb/IIIa with monoclonal antibodies or peptides, resulted in abnormal closure times. An antifibrinogen antibody, in contrast, failed to show any effect. The test appears to be sensitive to platelet adherence and aggregation abnormalities. The PFA-100® system has potential applications in routine evaluation of platelet function in the clinical setting because of its accuracy, case of operation, and rapid turnaround of results.

Keywords

platelets - bleeding time - platelet function - PFA-100® - von Willebrand disease

^* This article is a republished version of: Kundu SK, Heilmann EJ, Sio R, Garcia C, Davidson RM, Ostgaard RA. Description of an in vitro platelet function analyzer-PFA-100™. Semin Thromb Hemost 1995;21(02):106–112

Publication History

Article published online:
12 December 2023

• References

• 1 Kratzer MAA, Born GVR. Simulation of primary haemostasis in vitro. Haemostasis 1985; 15 (06) 357-362
• 2 von der Goltz V. . US patent 5,051,239. 1991
• 3 Dietrich G, Weber D, Kretschmer V. The in vitro bleeding test-standardization of the methodical procedure. Lab Med 1993; 17: 317-323
• 4 Kretschmer V, Schikor B, Söhngen D, Dietrich G. In vitro bleeding test–a simple method for the detection of aspirin effects on platelet function. Thromb Res 1989; 56 (05) 593-602
• 5 Kundu SR, Sio R, Mitu A, Ostgaard R. Evaluation of platelet function by PFA-100™. Clin Chem 1994; (40) 1827-1828
• 6 Kratzer MAA, Bellucci S, Caen JP. Detection of abnormal platelet functions with an in vitro model of primary haemostasis. Haemostasis 1985; 15 (06) 363-370
• 7 Aishameeri R, Mammen EF. Evaluation of an in vitro bleeding time device. Thromb Haemost 1994; 69: 1146 (abstr.)
• 8 Tsujinaka T, Itoh T, Uemura Y, Sakon M, Kambayashi J, Mori T. Clinical application of a new in vitro bleeding time device on surgical patients. Jpn J Surg 1988; 18 (04) 430-437