title: Platelet separation from the blood of severely thrombocytopaenic patients.
abstract: An efficient method is described for the isolation of platelets from the blood of severely thrombocytopaenic patients. The method, based on centrifugation over a density medium, was compared with platelet-rich plasma obtained by conventional differential centrifugation at a relative centrifugal force of 200 x g. With samples from thrombocytopaenic patients (n = 10, platelet counts between 7 and 22 x 10(9)/l), the density barrier method gave significantly improved platelet recoveries (82.1% +/- 6.2%) compared with differential centrifugation (61.6 +/- 4.6%) (P less than 0.001). Platelets isolated by the density barrier method showed no tendency to aggregate and were suitable for use in tests to detect platelet-associated immunoglobulin.
authors.affiliation: Division of Haematology, United Medical School, Guy's Hospital, London, England, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kazemi
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Westwood
mesh_terms: D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000166:cytology*; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods; D002498:Centrifugation; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000097:blood*