Shape change of human blood platelets: reliable and fast detection by quasi-elastic light scattering

Quasi-elastic light scattering has been used for the first time to obtain reliable information about the morphology of platelets under physiological conditions within a short time. By measuring two independent parameters (electrophoretic mobility and diffusion coefficient) it is possible to distinguish between different stages of shape change on the one hand, and between shape change and binding of particles to the platelet surface without shape change on the other hand.