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Semin Thromb Hemost 2007; 33(3): 273-282
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-971814
Copyright © 2007 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Platelet Function Testing: Quality Assurance

Catherine P.M Hayward1 , 2 , John Eikelboom3 , 4
  • 1Departments of Pathology & Molecular Medicine and Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
  • 2Hamilton Regional Laboratory Medicine Program, Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation and St. Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
  • 3Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
  • 4Thrombosis Service, Hamilton General Hospital, Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
10 April 2007 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Platelet function tests are widely used for the diagnosis of platelet disorders. In recent years there has been increasing interest in the use of platelet function tests to monitor antiplatelet drug therapy. Quality assurance is important to optimize the performance of laboratory assays but it has not been widely applied to platelet function tests. This deficiency likely reflects the need to use freshly collected blood samples for platelet function tests, and the complex, time-consuming nature of some assays such as aggregation studies. Platelet function testing lacks guidelines, is poorly standardized between laboratories, and rarely is evaluated by internal and external quality assurance exercises. The sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic utility of some newer, simplified assays of platelet function have been evaluated in a range of clinical settings but corresponding quality assurance data for many established as well as emerging platelet function assays are lacking. Quality assurance issues relevant to testing platelet function are reviewed in this article, with a focus on their application to established and to new and emerging tests.

KEYWORDS

Platelet function testing - quality assurance - platelet disorders - platelet aggregation - platelet secretion - Platelet Function Analyzer-100 closure time - bleeding time

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Dr. Catherine P.M Hayward

Pathology & Molecular Medicine, & Medicine, McMaster University, Room 2N31, McMaster University Medical Center

1200 Main St. West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8N 3Z5

Email: haywrdc@mcmaster.ca