Background: Whole blood impedance platelet aggregometry (Multiplate-) can be performed with different agonists to evaluate platelet function. Although the manufacturer recommends disposal of stored reagents after 1 month at −20°C or 24 hours at 4°C, reagent integrity after reconstitution under different storage conditions is unknown. If reagent integrity is stable for longer periods, assay costs could decrease dramatically.
Objectives:This study aimed to determine the stability of reconstituted arachidonic acid (AA) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) platelet agonists stored at −20°C and −80°C for up to 6 months.Methods: Aliquots of reconstituted AA and ADP were stored at −20°C and −80°C each month for a total of 6 months. Six healthy staff-owned dogs were enrolled in the study. A physical examination, CBC, diagnostic panel, urinalysis, and baseline platelet aggregometry assessment was performed on all of the dogs. Platelet aggregometry was performed using fresh and stored aliquots of AA and ADP reagents on the same day. The area under the curve (AUC) was recorded from each platelet aggregometry analysis. Repeated measures (RM) analysis (one-way ANOVA) was performed and subsequent time points (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 months) were compared with fresh AUC results.Results: All dogs were clinically healthy, and all diagnostic tests were normal. There were no differences in AUC obtained from fresh samples at any time point or either temperature for AA or ADP.
Conclusions:Whole blood impedance platelet aggregometry reagents, AA and ADP, were stable for up to 6 months when stored at −20°C or −80°C, obviating the need to discard viable reagents, and decreasing assay costs.
K E Y W O R D S
Multiplate, platelet aggregometry, reagentWhole blood impedance platelet aggregometry (Multiplate) is a specialized assay that can be used to assess platelet function in dogs. 1 Over the past several years, veterinary studies in dogs have used this assay, and it is being used clinically with an increasing frequency. 1-8 This method uses anticoagulated whole blood and platelet agonists that stimulate platelets to aggregate. Platelet aggregation within the electrode-containing test cell results in electrical impedance, which is recorded as several output measurements. The area under the curve (AUC) is the standard measurement reported that describes platelet responses to different agonists. 1 Arachidonic acid (AA) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) are two agonists that are used frequently in veterinary medicine. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] To perform the assay, reagents are reconstituted according to the manufacturer's (Multiplate 5.0 Analyzer;