title: Pneumatic tube system transport does not alter platelet function in optical and whole blood aggregometry, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, platelet count and fibrinogen in patients on anti-platelet drug therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to assess pneumatic tube system (PTS) alteration on platelet function by the light transmission aggregometry (LTA) and whole blood aggregometry (WBA) method, and on the results of platelet count, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and fibrinogen.
  
  
  METHODS
  Venous blood was collected into six 4.5 mL VACUETTE® 9NC coagulation sodium citrate 3.8% tubes (Greiner Bio-One International GmbH, Kremsmünster, Austria) from 49 intensive care unit (ICU) patients on dual anti-platelet therapy and immediately hand carried to the central laboratory. Blood samples were divided into 2 Groups: Group 1 samples (N = 49) underwent PTS (4 m/s) transport from the central laboratory to the distant laboratory and back to the central laboratory, whereas Group 2 samples (N = 49) were excluded from PTS forces. In both groups, LTA and WBA stimulated with collagen, adenosine-5'-diphosphate (ADP), arachidonic acid (AA) and thrombin-receptor-activated-peptide 6 (TRAP-6) as well as platelet count, PT, APTT, and fibrinogen were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No statistically significant differences were observed between blood samples with (Group 1) and without (Group 2) PTS transport (P values from 0.064 - 0.968). The AA-induced LTA (bias: 68.57%) exceeded the bias acceptance limit of ≤ 25%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Blood sample transportation with computer controlled PTS in our hospital had no statistically significant effects on platelet aggregation determined in patients with anti-platelet therapy. Although AA induced LTA showed a significant bias, the diagnostic accuracy was not influenced.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, General Hospital Steyr, Steyr, Austria; Clinical Institute of Medical and Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Enko
authors.affiliation: Clinical Institute of Medical and Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mangge
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Münch
authors.affiliation: Clinical Institute of Medical and Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Niedrist
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria; Research Unit "Perioperative Platelet Function", Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mahla
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Helfried
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Metzler
authors.affiliation: Clinical Institute of Medical and Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria; Research Unit "Perioperative Platelet Function", Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Prüller
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010314:Partial Thromboplastin Time; D015539:Platelet Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010976:Platelet Count; D010979:Platelet Function Tests / Q000379:methods*; D011517:Prothrombin Time; D014186:Transportation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
keywords: clinical laboratory services; platelet aggregation; platelet function tests; platelets; preanalytical phase