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Dynamic Multiparameter Platelet Function Assessment Using a Capacitive Biosensor
Published on: May 2, 2025
Evaluation of multiple electrode aggregometry in whole blood using Multiplate Mini Test cells
Kurtis R Lee1, Veerle J E Verheyden, Andrew D Mumford
1University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, BS2 8HW, United Kingdom. kurtis.lee2@UHBristol.nhs.uk
Thrombosis Research
|January 28, 2012
Summary
Mini test cells (MTC) offer a viable alternative for multiple electrode aggregometry (MEA) platelet function testing. While MTC and standard test cells (STC) show similar precision, their results are not interchangeable due to differing area under curve (AUC) values.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Clinical Diagnostics
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Multiple electrode aggregometry (MEA) is a rapid method for platelet function testing.
- Standard test cells (STC) require 600 μL of whole blood.
- Mini test cells (MTC) offer a lower sample volume alternative (350 μL).
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the diagnostic performance of MTC compared to STC in MEA.
- To assess assay imprecision, correlation, and agreement between MTC and STC.
- To determine if MTC can be used interchangeably with STC for platelet function testing.
Main Methods:
- Whole blood samples from healthy donors and 119 cardiac surgery patients were used.
- Assay imprecision, correlation, and agreement were estimated for MTC and STC.
- Area under curve (AUC) was determined using adenosine diphosphate (ADP), arachidonic acid (AA), and TRAP reagents.
Main Results:
- Imprecision was similar for MTC and STC with ADP, AA, and TRAP reagents.
- Higher imprecision was observed with the unvalidated ADR reagent.
- Strong correlation was found between AUC values from MTC and STC for ADP, AA, and TRAP.
- MTC consistently yielded lower AUC values due to fewer platelets.
- Agreement between MTC and STC was less strong, potentially due to combined imprecision.
Conclusions:
- MTC and STC are equally valid for MEA platelet function testing.
- AUC values from MTC and STC are not directly interchangeable.
- Separate reference intervals are necessary for AUC results obtained using MTC and STC.
