Method for preparing agglutinatable, fixed platelet fragments
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to a method for preparing agglutinatable platelet fragments, in which native platelets are treated with ultrasound and a fixative. The platelet fragments are suitable for use in diagnostic assay methods which include an agglutination reaction, such as, for example, in a method for determining VWF activity.
1. A method for preparing agglutinatable platelet fragments comprising,
(a) treating a suspension of native platelets with ultrasound to fragment the platelets, and then,
(b) adding a fixative to the suspension of platelet fragments from step (a).
2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising adding an anticoagulant to the suspension of native platelets before treating with ultrasound in step (a).
3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein steps (a) and (b) are performed in the absence of platelet function inhibitors.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the platelet function inhibitor is chosen from acetylsalicylic acid, theophylline, caffeine, dipyridamole, milfinone, cilostamide, zaprinast, prostaglandin E1, prostaglandin I2, prostacyclin, adenosine, and apyrase.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the platelets are fixed after the ultrasound treatment with a fixative chosen from formaldehyde, paraformaldehyde, and glutaraldehyde.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising
(c) binding GP1b receptor protein to the suspension of fixed platelet fragments from step (b).
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the GP1b receptor protein is coupled to an antibody that binds to a platelet surface epitope.