What is platelet aggregation?

What is platelet aggregation?

Definition. The platelet aggregation blood test checks how well platelets , a part of blood, clump together and cause blood to clot.

What can cause platelet aggregation?

Substances such as collagen, ristocetin, arachidonic acid, adenosine 5′-diphosphate, epinephrine, and thrombin can stimulate platelets and hence induce aggregation. Response to these aggregating agents (known as agonists) provides a diagnostic pattern for different disorders of platelet function.

What is the definition of a platelet aggregation test?

Hemophilia — An inherited bleeding disorder caused by a deficiency of factor VIII, one of a series of blood proteins essential for blood clotting. Platelets — Small, round, disk-shaped blood cells that are involved in clot formation. The platelet aggregation test measures the clumping ability of platelets.

What kind of test is done to check for platelets?

A chemical is then added to your blood sample to test how quickly your platelets clot. This test may also be called a platelet aggregometry test or a platelet aggregation assay. Why is the test performed?

What kind of machine is used for platelet aggregation?

The platelet aggregation test uses a machine called an aggregometer to measure the cloudiness (turbidity) of blood plasma.

Can a blood clot be caused by platelet aggregation?

Problems with platelet aggregation may necessitate a blood transfusion. Frequent nosebleeds may be a sign of a bleeding disorder. Fibrin combines with platelets and blood cells to create a clot. A decrease in platelet aggregation could indicate a congenital disorder that has been present since birth.

How long does the platelet aggregation test take?

Minutes to hours: The results of platelet aggregation test should be available within one day.

Is there normal range for platelet aggregation?

The normal range (99% of population analyzed) for platelets in healthy Caucasians is 150,000 to 450,000 per cubic millimeter (a mm3 equals a microliter). or 150-450 × 109 per liter. The normal range has been confirmed to be the same in the elderly and Spanish populations.

What is a platelet count test used for?

Definition A platelet count is a diagnostic test that determines the number of platelets in the patient’s blood. The primary functions of a platelet count are to assist in the diagnosis of bleeding disorders and to monitor patients who are being treated for any disease involving bone marrow failure.

What is a platelet aggregation test agonist?

The platelet aggregation test is a measure of the platelet clumping function. The platelet aggregation test aids in the evaluation of bleeding disorders by measuring the rate and degree to which platelets aggregate after the addition of a chemical, an agonist, that stimulates platelet clumping.