Coagulation
Coagulation laboratory tests
Platelet hyperaggregation studies
Author: Jeremy C. Parsons, M.D.
Last author update: 1 November 2012
Last staff update: 23 February 2021
Copyright: 2002-2024, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed Search: Platelet hyperaggregation studies
Cite this page: Parsons JC. Platelet hyperaggregation studies. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/coagulationplatelethyperaggregationstudies.html. Accessed April 18th, 2024.
Definition / general
- Hyperaggregation may rarely be associated with hypercoagulability, including myocardial infarction, strokes and venous thrombosis
- Tested patients should have abstained from aspirin, NSAIDs or platelet-inhibiting drugs for 7 days prior to testing
- Indications: patients with unexplained hypercoagulability and normal values in hypercoagulation panel
Laboratory
- Similar to platelet aggregation
- Centrifuge citrated plasma gently to draw red and white blood cells into a pellet, which leaves platelets suspended in the plasma
- Then add various agonists at multiple low concentrations and a control (no agonist, to measure spontaneous aggregation), and measure platelet aggregation with an aggregometer (which measures optical density)
- Must carefully evaluate patient's use of medications (including over the counter)
- Must compare to normal control, and results can be subjective
