Platelet Immunology Laboratory

Types of Measurements

• Direct Test:Detection of antibodies bound to patient’s platelets.
• Indirect Test:Detection of antibodies in patient’s plasma by incubating the plasma with allogeneic platelets.

Platelet Antibody Assays

• Flow Cytometry Assay:A flow cytometer uses fluorescent antibodies to detect IgG or IgM antibodies bound to autologous or allogeneic platelets.

Platelet Antigen Determination

• DNA Typing:This test uses the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) to determine the genetic code variations responsible for the different platelet antigens (HPA-1 through HPA-6).
• Platelet Antibody Determination (MAIPA):An enzyme linked assay (ELISA) performed by either using donor platelets of known platelet types to determine the specificity of platelet antibodies or a commercially available kit.

Heparin Antibody Assay

• Heparin-Platelet Factor 4 Assay:Enzyme linked assay using a complex of heparin and platelet factor 4 (PF4) to capture antibody developed during type II heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT).

ADAMTS-13 Protease Activity

• ADAMTS -13 Protease Activityis measured by a Fluorescence Resonace Transfer (FRET) Assay in which fluorescence is detected when a synthetic von Willebrand Factor peptide (VWF73) is cleaved by ADAMTS13. Inhibitor activity is determined by measuring the ability of heat treated patient plasma to inhibit ADAMTS13 in normal plasma; inhibitor activity is expressed as percent inhibition of the ADAMTS13.