Measurement of in vitro P-selectin expression by flow cytometry

Measurement of in vivo platelet activation is difficult after phlebotomy and during blood processing for analysis. We used flow cytometry to measure platelet surface expression of P-selectin in the presence and absence of trimethylsphingosine (a platelet activation inhibitor) and compared the results with those from the standard methods of preventing in vitro P-selectin expression. Percent activation was calculated as a ratio of mean sample fluorescence to 100% mean fluorescence after phorbol myristate acetate treatment. Twenty-five micromoles per liter of trimethylsphingosine kept in vitro platelet activation below 5% up to 6 hours after collection and below 10% at 24 hours after collection. Trimethylsphingosine failed to prevent platelet activation caused by centrifugation, storage at 4 degrees C, or stimulation with common agonists. Addition of trimethylsphingosine to whole blood was valuable in preventing in vitro platelet activation. This compound promises to be a useful preservative for diagnostic testing of platelet activation.