A stepwise approach to laboratory testing for platelet function disorders, beginning with clinical evaluation and progressing to specialized assays like aggregometry, optimizes diagnosis and resource use.
A stepwise approach to platelet function testing, starting with clinical evaluation and basic tests before moving to specialized assays, optimizes diagnostic accuracy and resource utilization.
Platelet function testing is both complex and labor intensive. A stepwise approach to the evaluation of patients with suspected platelet disorders will optimize the use of laboratory resources, beginning with an appropriate clinical evaluation to determine whether the bleeding is consistent with a defect of primary hemostasis. Bleeding assessment tools, evaluation of platelet counts, and review of peripheral blood cell morphology can aid the initial assessment. For patients requiring further laboratory testing, platelet aggregometry, secretion assays, and von Willebrand factor assays are the most useful next steps and will direct further specialized testing including flow cytometry, electron microscopy, and molecular diagnostics. Guidelines and recommendations for standardizing platelet function testing, with a particular focus on light transmission aggregometry, are available and can provide a template for clinical laboratories in establishing procedures that will optimize diagnosis and assure quality results. This review outlines an approach to platelet function testing and reviews testing methods available to clinical laboratories.
Sara J. Israels (Fri,) conducted a review in Platelet function disorders. Laboratory testing for platelet function disorders was evaluated. A stepwise approach to laboratory testing for platelet function disorders, beginning with clinical evaluation and progressing to specialized assays like aggregometry, optimizes diagnosis and resource use.
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