Clinical Significance

The PFA-100 can be used as an aid in the rapid evaluation of platelet dysfunction in citrated human whole blood. The instrument determines the time from the start of the test until the platelet plug occludes the aperture, and reports that time interval as the Closure Time (CT). The CT is an indicator of platelet function in the analyzed whole blood sample. As expected, platelet plug formation in the PFA-100 system is affected by low platelet counts and/or activity, inadequate plasma von Willebrand factor status, and additionally by, inadequate hematocrit because of the flow process. The Collagen/Epinephrin (COL/EPI) Test Cartridge is the primary cartridge of used used to detect platelet dysfunction induced by intrinsic platelet defects, von Willebrand disease or exposure to platelet inhibiting agents. The Collagen/ADP Test Cartridge is used to indicate if an abnormal result obtained with the COL/EPI Test Cartridge may have been caused by the effect of acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) or medications containing ASA.

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