Standardization of Light Transmission Aggregometry for Diagnosis of Platelet Disorders: An Inter-Laboratory External Quality Assessment

Karina Althaus; Barbara Zieger; Tamam Bakchoul; Kerstin Jurk; On behalf of THROMKID-Plus Studiengruppe der Gesellschaft für Thrombose- und Hämostaseforschung (GTH) und der Gesellschaft für Pädiatrische Onkologie und Hämatologie (GPOH)

doi:10.1055/s-0039-1688791

Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Table of Contents

Thromb Haemost 2019; 119(07): 1154-1161
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1688791

New Technologies, Diagnostic Tools and Drugs

Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Standardization of Light Transmission Aggregometry for Diagnosis of Platelet Disorders: An Inter-Laboratory External Quality Assessment

Authors

Karina Althaus

¹Center for Clinical Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Barbara Zieger

²Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical Center–University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
Tamam Bakchoul

¹Center for Clinical Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

³Department of Transfusion Medicine, Medical Faculty of Tübingen, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Kerstin Jurk

⁴Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis (CTH), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany

On behalf of THROMKID-Plus Studiengruppe der Gesellschaft für Thrombose- und Hämostaseforschung (GTH) und der Gesellschaft für Pädiatrische Onkologie und Hämatologie (GPOH)

Abstract

Several in vitro platelet function tests are available for the diagnosis of inherited platelet function disorders. Currently, the light transmission aggregometry (LTA) is recommended as one of the first-step tests. LTA is available in most specialized hemostasis laboratories. Although the LTA is accepted as a ‘gold standard’ assay for the evaluation of platelet function, its standardization in the clinical practice is still challenging. The GTH-based THROMKID-Plus Study Group has performed an inter-laboratory trial in Germany and Austria. Five different agonists were selected according to the Scientific and Standardization Committee/International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis recommendations and shipped in 3 different sets (one should represent a healthy control and two should simulate platelet function disorders) to 15 specialized laboratories in Germany and Austria. Agonists were analyzed by APACT or PAP4/8 aggregometer using platelet-rich plasma from healthy donors. In addition, laboratory-internal platelet agonists were tested in platelet-rich plasma from a healthy donor. All laboratories (9 used APACT, 6 used PAP4/PAP8) showed very consistent data regarding the maximum percentage of aggregation induced by the tested agonists and identified the differential diagnosis of the simulated platelet function disorders with one exception, which was due to technical problems. In contrast, there was a high variability of the laboratory-internal inductors regarding reagent type, concentrations and pathological cut-off values. Our study showed that the shipment of agonists is suitable for an inter-laboratory survey of LTA. However, there is still a remarkable need for standardization of agonist reagents and their concentration as well as for definition of reference ranges.

Keywords

platelets - light transmission aggregometry - inherited platelet disorders

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References

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