A novel haemodilution chip mounted on the total thrombus‐formation analysis system, a flow chamber system, enables stable analysis of platelet products under low platelet concentration/high shear conditions

Abstract

Background and ObjectivesThe total thrombus‐formation analysis system (T‐TAS) can quantitatively analyse the contribution of platelets to haemostasis using reconstituted blood samples. However, it is unsuitable in cases with low platelet counts. We introduced a haemodilution (HD) chip with a shallow chamber depth, adapted to low platelet counts and high shear conditions (1500 s−1).Materials and MethodsBlood samples were prepared by mixing red blood cell products, standard human plasma and platelet products; the final platelet count was 50 × 103/μL. Aggregation tests were performed by using the aggregation inducers collagen, adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and ristocetin. Samples with 2‐, 4‐ and 9‐day‐old platelet products (N = 10) were evaluated.ResultsThe HD chip enabled the stable analysis of the haemostatic function of all samples at a platelet count of 50 × 103/μL. Haemostatic function was correlated with ADP aggregation (time to 10 kPa [T10]: r = −0.53; area under the curve for 30 min: r = 0.40) and storage period (T10: r = 0.44).ConclusionThe HD chip‐mounted T‐TAS can stably analyse haemostatic function under low platelet counts and high shear conditions; this approach is expected to serve as a bridge to in vivo haemostatic tests with experimental animals.