Patent ID: 6410337
Filing Date: 2002-06-25
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method for measuring platelet function by the counting of platelets before and after exogenous platelet activation comprising:(a) selecting first and second samples comprising platelets in a liquid medium from a physiological source of said platelets wherein each of said samples contains approximately the same number of platelets; said first sample containing a substance which suppresses platelet activation and said first sample being essentially devoid of any agent which produces exogenous platelet activation to cause the platelets therein to aggregate; said second sample being essentially devoid of any agent that interferes with platelet function; (b) counting the platelets in said first sample in the absence of an activation agonist to obtain a baseline count of the platelets; (c) mixing an amount of at least one activation agonist with said second sample to produce exogenous platelet activation for a period of time effective to maximally activate and cause aggregation of activatable platelets in said second sample; (d) counting the platelets in said second sample after exogenous platelet activation to obtain a second count of unactivated platelets in said second sample; and (e) utilizing the difference between the baseline count of platelets in step (b) and the second count obtained in step (d) as a measure of the activity of the platelets in the physiological source.