Evaluation of Correlation between Platelet Function in Platelet apheresis Donors and Function in Thrombapharesis Concentrates Measured with Impedance Aggregometry (Multiplate® Analyzer)

Transfusion of platelet concentrates (PC) can be necessary for patients to maintain coagulability. It is vital that the platelets maintain viability and function during processing and storage to obtain enhanced coagulability in the transfused patient. Today, no test is used to verify platelet function in either donors or in PC’s. Observing swirling effect is the only test applied to control platelets before transfusion but the method is based on platelet morphology and does not directly evaluate platelet function.Impedance aggregometry (IA) (Multiplate analyzer, Roche Diagnostic) is a promising method for measuring platelet function, measuring changes in impedance over time when platelets adhere to electrodes. IA has been well evaluated for the purpose of analyzing whole blood but analyzing PC’s is a relatively new application of the method.Samples from platelet donors and PC’s were analyzed with IA to evaluate correlation in function between donors and PC’s, in the hope of being able to predict function in PC. Different platelet concentrations were also analyzed to evaluate the impact of varying concentration on impedance. Adenosine diphosphate (ADP), collagen and thrombin receptor activating peptide 6 (TRAP-6) were used to induce aggregation. Platelet function was measured in PC’s on day 1 and 4 after donation.A significant correlation was observed between platelet function in donors and in PCs on day 1, measured with ADP. An important finding was also that platelet concentration does affect impedance, in collagen-induced aggregation more than ADP-induced. It is therefore possible that a correlation would also have been found between donors and PC’s analyzed with collagen if the platelet concentration would have been standardized