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Updated: Aug 29, 2026
In Vitro Thrombosis Test for Ventricular Assist Devices
Published on: March 21, 2025
A positive in vitro assay is required to diagnose heparin-induced thrombocytopenia
Kandace Kottke-Marchant1, Franklin A Bontempo
1Section of Hemostasis and Thrombosis, Department of Clinical Pathology, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, L30, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA. marchak@ccf.org
A 57-year-old woman is admitted for coronary artery bypass graft. She has had a recent coronary angiogram (with heparin exposure), which revealed high-grade stenoses of the left anterior descending coronary artery, right coronary artery, and left circumflex artery. The preoperative platelet count is 300,000/microL. Heparin is administered during cardiopulmonary bypass. The platelet count on postoperative day 1 is 160,000/microL and on postoperative day 6 is 60,000/microL. Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is suspected and HIT assays are ordered.
A 57-year-old woman is admitted for coronary artery bypass graft. She has had a recent coronary angiogram (with heparin exposure), which revealed high-grade stenoses of the left anterior descending coronary artery, right coronary artery, and left circumflex artery. The preoperative platelet count is 300,000/microL. Heparin is administered during cardiopulmonary bypass. The platelet count on postoperative day 1 is 160,000/microL and on postoperative day 6 is 60,000/microL. Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is suspected and HIT assays are ordered.
