Measuring platelet function?

The last guidelines for platelet function testing were written in the late 1980s. Given the advances in this field and the introduction of potentially useful additions to our existing portfolio of platelet function tests, work is currently in progress to rewrite these guidelines. The development of reliable, sophisticated but simple to use whole blood tests that attempt to simulate in vivo haemostasis provides the ability to screen samples rapidly before, applying our existing portfolio of tests. Certainly, the general consensus is that the in vivo bleeding time should be replaced. Many of the simpler platelet function tests could be potentially utilised as point of care instruments for assessing bleeding risk and monitoring antiplatelet therapy. Platelet function testing will therefore become increasingly utilised outside of the specialised laboratory. Although this represents an important advance, validation, reliability and quality control testing of these tests will also become an increasingly important issue. It is highly likely that in the near future the platelet genome and proteome will also be defined resulting in many exciting adjances in the field, which could also have significant impact upon the diagnosis and management of patients with either Haemostatic or Thrombotic defects. © 2004 The European Hematology Association All rights reserved.