Protocol for monitoring platelet inhibition

1. A method of evaluating an efficacy of a platelet therapy in a patient comprising:

testing a first blood sample from the patient to determine a first blood sample characteristic, the first blood sample reflecting the substantial absence of platelet activation, and wherein the first blood sample is prepared in vitro to provide thrombin suppression;

testing a second blood sample from the patient to determine a second blood sample characteristic, the second blood sample reflecting the presence of in vivo administration of the platelet therapy, and wherein the second blood sample is prepared in vitro to provide thrombin suppression;

testing a third blood sample from the patient to determine a third blood sample characteristic, the third blood sample reflecting substantially uninhibited platelet activation, and wherein the third blood sample is prepared in vitro to provide substantially uninhibited platelet activation; and

determining a parameter indicative of the efficacy of the platelet therapy in the patient based upon the first, second and third blood sample characteristics.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the parameter comprises a percentage of platelet activation.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first blood sample characteristic represents a fibrin contribution to hemostasis.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second blood sample characteristic represents a contribution to hemostasis of activated platelets in the presence of the platelet therapy.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the third blood sample characteristic represents a contribution to hemostasis of substantially complete platelet activation.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of testing a first blood sample comprises preparing the first blood sample in vitro with a fibrin activator.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the fibrin activator comprises at least one of the group of fibrin activators comprising: reptilase and Factor XIIIa.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of testing a second blood sample comprises preparing the second blood sample in vitro with an adenosine diphosphate (ADP) site activator.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the ADP activator comprises an ADP agonist.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of testing a second blood sample comprises preparing the second blood sample with a Thromboxane A 2 site activator.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the Thromboxane A2 site activator comprises arachidonic acid.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of testing the third blood sample comprises preparing the third blood sample in vitro to neutralize the platelet therapy.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the step of preparing the third blood sample to neutralize the platelet therapy comprises adding to the third blood sample at least one of kaolin and heparinase.

14. The method of claim 1 , comprising substantially simultaneously testing the first, second and third blood sample.

15. The method of claim 1 , comprising providing a first, second and third hemostasis testing cells, and simultaneously testing the first, second and third blood sample in the first, second and third testing cells.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first, second and third hemostasis testing cells comprise first, second and third testing cells of a single hemostasis analyzer.

17. An apparatus for evaluating a platelet therapy in a patient comprising:

a first hemostasis testing cell containing a first blood sample from the patient to determine a first blood sample characteristic, the first blood sample reflecting the substantial absence of platelet activation, and wherein the first blood sample is prepared in vitro to provide thrombin suppression;

a second hemostasis testing cell containing a second blood sample from the patient to determine a second blood sample characteristic, the second blood sample reflecting the presence of a platelet inhibition therapy as a result of in vivo administration of the platelet therapy, and wherein the second blood sample is prepared in vitro to provide thrombin suppression; and

a third hemostasis testing cell containing a third blood sample from the patient to determine a third blood sample characteristic, the third blood sample reflecting substantially uninhibited platelet activation, and wherein the third blood sample is prepared in vitro to provide substantially uninhibited platelet activation, wherein the first, second and third blood sample characteristics are indicative of the efficacy of the platelet therapy in the patient.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the first, second and third testing cells comprise first, second and third testing cells of a single testing apparatus.

19. A method of evaluating an anti-platelet therapy in a patient comprising:

testing a first blood sample from the patient to determine a first blood sample characteristic, the first blood sample reflecting the substantial absence of platelet activation;

preparing a second blood sample from the patient with a Thromboxane A 2 site activator;

testing the second blood sample to determine a second blood sample characteristic, the second blood sample reflecting the presence of an anti-platelet therapy as modified by the Thromboxane A2 site activator;

testing a third blood sample from the patient to determine a third blood sample characteristic, the third blood sample reflecting the presence of substantially uninhibited platelet activation; and

determining a parameter indicative of the efficacy of the anti-platelet therapy in the patient based upon the first, second and third blood sample characteristics.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the Thromboxane A2 site activator comprises arachidonic acid.

21. A method of evaluating a platelet therapy in a patient comprising:

testing a first blood sample from the patient to determine a first blood sample characteristic, the first blood sample reflecting the substantial absence of platelet activation;

testing a second blood sample from the patient to determine a second blood sample characteristic, the second blood sample reflecting the presence of a platelet therapy;

preparing a third blood sample from the patient to neutralize the platelet therapy,

testing the third blood sample to determine a third blood sample characteristic, the third blood sample reflecting the presence of substantially uninhibited platelet activation; and

determining a parameter indicative of the efficacy of the platelet therapy in the patient based upon the first, second and third blood sample characteristics.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the step of preparing the third blood sample to neutralize the platelet therapy comprises adding to the third blood sample at least one of kaolin and heparinase.