The effect of a pneumatic tube transport system on platelet aggregation using optical aggregometry and the PFA-100.
BACKGROUND
Pneumatic tube sample transport is widely used in hospitals because it is convenient and reduces turnaround times. However, the preanalytical effects of pneumatic tube transport of blood samples on platelet function analysis are not fully understood.


METHODS
Blood samples from 15 healthy subjects were collected before and after treatment with acetylsalicylic acid. Sample tubes were transported by pneumatic tube transport while the corresponding sample tubes were hand-delivered. Platelet function analysis was performed in platelet rich plasma by optical aggregometry and in whole blood by the PFA-100.


RESULTS
Using the collagen-induced optical aggregometry a significant decrease of the aggregation amplitude (n = 30) was observed in tubed samples in comparison to the corresponding hand-delivered samples (low collagen concentration: 52.5% vs 56.1%, p = 0.006; and high collagen concentration respectively: 63.9% vs 67.1%, p = 0.011). Additionally, a slight prolongation of the PFA-100TM closure time for the epinephrine/collagen and the ADP/collagen stimulation was found in the tubed samples compared to the hand-delivered samples.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that the pneumatic tube sample transport impairs the platelet aggregation. Therefore, we recommend the manual transport of whole blood samples which are collected for optical aggregometry or PFA-100 analysis.
Hübner
Ulrich
U
University Hospital of the Saarland, Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine/Central Laboratory, Homburg, Germany.
Böckel-Frohnhöfer
Nicole
N
Hummel
Björn
B
Geisel
Jürgen
J
D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects; D003094:Collagen / Q000097:blood; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010974:Platelet Aggregation; D053657:Platelet-Rich Plasma / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012310:Ristocetin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014186:Transportation / Q000379:methods
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D012310:Ristocetin; D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate; D003094:Collagen