Patent ID: 7179652

Claim:
A method of evaluating an efficacy of a platelet therapy in a patient comprising: testing a first blood sample from the patient to determine a first blood sample characteristic, the first blood sample reflecting the substantial absence of platelet activation, and wherein the first blood sample is prepared in vitro to provide thrombin suppression; testing a second blood sample from the patient to determine a second blood sample characteristic, the second blood sample reflecting the presence of in vivo administration of the platelet therapy, and wherein the second blood sample is prepared in vitro to provide thrombin suppression; testing a third blood sample from the patient to determine a third blood sample characteristic, the third blood sample reflecting substantially uninhibited platelet activation, and wherein the third blood sample is prepared in vitro to provide substantially uninhibited platelet activation; and determining a parameter indicative of the efficacy of the platelet therapy in the patient based upon the first, second and third blood sample characteristics.