Methods for determining platelet function
AssigneeAlberta Cancer Board
InventorsAndrew R. E. Shaw, Michael W. Stewart
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Abstract
The invention provides a method for determining platelet function in a mammal comprising providing platelets from the mammal, contacting the platelets in suspension with at least one immobilised ECM protein or an effective fragment or analog thereof while applying to the platelets an effective mechanical stimulus for an effective period of time and determining the platelet activation produced. The invention also provides a method for detecting a bleeding disorder in a human. Further, the invention provides a method for monitoring the efficacy of pharmacological agents affecting platelet function in vivo.
Claims13
A method for assessing the platelet function of a mammal by determining in vitro platelet activation in response to immobilized yon Willebrand factor (vWf), comprising
- obtaining a sample comprising suspended platelets from a mammal;
- contacting the sample with an agonist comprising vWf immobilized on a particulate solid support to form a combined suspension;
- applying to the combined suspension an activation stimulus which consists of a mechanical stimulus acting together with the immobilized vWf of the agonist for a period of time effective to produce activation of the platelets in the combined suspension;
- determining a platelet activation value for the combined suspension;
- and
- assessing the platelet function of the mammal by comparing the activation value determined for the combined suspension to activation values determined for combined suspensions containing samples of control platelets.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.