Platelet Aggregation Controls

1
Platelet Aggregation Controls

• A normal control should be obtained from a
  drug-free individual. It may be helpful to have
  in reserve several laboratory personnel whose
  normal platelet function has been well documented
  over time.
• An abnormal control can be obtained from an
  individual known to use aspirin. Abnormalities
  will be noted in responses to arachidonic acid,
  ADP (absent secondary wave or reduced
  luminescence), and collagen. A caveat is that
  not all individuals taking mini-dose aspirin
  (80mg/day) will show blunted responses.
  Alternatively, the in vitro addition, to citrated
  blood, of aspirin at a final concentration of 1mM
  will inhibit platelet responses to arachidonic
  acid.

When performing platelet aggregation testing, it
is important to establish that agonists, whether
reconstituted or thawed, can elicit acceptable
and predictable responses for both normal and
abnormal platelets.