Method for monitoring inhibition of platelet function

1. A method of monitoring inhibition of platelet function response comprising:

collecting less than 100 μl of platelet-containing mammalian test blood from a patient treated with a platelet inhibitor;

mixing the test blood with a platelet agonist to generate agonist-activated test blood;

monitoring an extracellular platelet-release-reaction light emission in the agonist-activated test blood to generate a test measurement of the light emission;

comparing the measured test light emission to a standard value, wherein the standard value of the light emission is determined by collecting platelet-containing standard blood from the patient; mixing the standard blood with the platelet agonist to generate agonist-activated standard blood; and monitoring an extracellular platelet-release-reaction light emission in the agonist-activated standard blood to generate the standard value, wherein the standard blood is collected from the patient before the patient is treated with the platelet inhibitor; and

determining an inhibitory effect of platelet activation based on the comparison of the measured test light emission to the standard value.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the platelet inhibitor is aspirin.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the extracellular platelet-release-reaction light emission is based on the amount of ATP.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the monitoring of the light emission comprises:

adding to the blood an ATP-consuming enzyme that catalyzes a reaction; and

monitoring light emission from the enzyme-catalyzed reaction.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the enzyme is luciferase, the method further comprising adding luciferin to the blood.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the luciferin and luciferase are added to the blood before the blood is mixed with the platelet agonist.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the luciferin and luciferase are added to the blood after the blood is mixed with the platelet agonist.

8. The method of claim 3 , wherein less than 10 μl of blood is collected.

9. The method of claim 3 , wherein the platelet-containing blood is whole blood.

10. The method of claim 3 , further comprising: diluting the blood, wherein the monitoring of the light emission comprises:

adding luciferin and luciferase to the blood; and

monitoring light produced by the luciferase.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the standard value of the light emission is determined by a method comprising:

collecting less than 100 μl of platelet-containing standard blood from the mammal;

diluting the standard blood;

mixing the standard blood with the platelet agonist to generate agonist-activated standard blood; and

monitoring extracellular ATP in the agonist-activated standard blood to generate the standard value, wherein the monitoring of the ATP comprises (a) adding luciferin and luciferase to the standard blood, and (b) monitoring light emission produced by the luciferase;

wherein the standard blood is not treated with the platelet inhibitor.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the platelet agonist is arachidonic acid.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the platelet agonist is arachidonic acid.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the platelet agonist is a phospholipase A 2 activator.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: diluting the blood.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the agonist-activated blood is diluted enough to prevent platelet aggregation.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the agonist-activated blood is diluted at least 1/20.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the standard value of the light emission is determined by a method comprising:

collecting less than 100 μl of platelet-containing standard blood from the mammal;

mixing the standard blood with the platelet agonist to generate agonist-activated standard blood; and

monitoring the extracellular platelet-release-reaction light emission in the agonist-activated standard blood to generate the standard value, wherein the standard blood is not treated with the platelet inhibitor.

19. A method for monitoring inhibition of platelet function response comprising:

providing a predetermined volume of a solution of light-producing ATP-consuming enzyme;

providing a predetermined volume of a solution of platelet agonist;

providing an assay chamber;

collecting a test volume of less than 100 μl of platelet-containing mammalian blood from a patient treated with a platelet inhibitor;

delivering and mixing the predetermined volume of the solution of light-producing ATP-consuming enzyme, the predetermined volume of the solution of platelet agonist, and the test volume of blood into the assay chamber;

detecting an amount of test light in the assay chamber that is emitted from the mixed solutions and the test volume of blood;

comparing the detected amount of test light emission to a standard value of light emission, wherein the standard value of light emission is determined by collecting platelet-containing standard blood from the patient, mixing the standard blood with the platelet agonist to generate agonist-activated standard blood, and monitoring an extracellular platelet-release-reaction light emission in the agonist-activated standard blood to generate the standard value, wherein the standard blood is collected from the patient before the patient is treated with the platelet inhibitor; and

determining an inhibitory effect of platelet activation based on the comparison of the measured test light emission to the standard value.