title: Mean platelet volume artifacts: the effect of anticoagulants and temperature on canine platelets.
abstract: Improper handling of specimens results in artifactually high Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) measurements limiting their usefulness as a clinical tool. MPV measurement and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were performed on split specimens collected from normal dogs using two anticoagulants and two temperatures over a period of 4 hours. Platelets exposed to EDTA and maintained at 4 degrees C (39.2 degrees F) exhibited the highest artifactual increase in MPV, while those exposed to citrate and maintained at 37 degrees C (98.6 degrees F) exhibited minimal change. The increase in MPV was accompanied by platelet shape change from a smooth disc to an irregular sphere with filopodia. It is recommended that citrated specimens maintained at 37 degrees C be used in all MPV measurements.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Handagama
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Feldman
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kono
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Farver