A Study of Reference Interval for Platelet Aggregation Test Using Light Transmission Aggregometry in Thai Population

Abstract

Light transmission platelet aggregometry (LTA) is one of the most well-known techniques for platelet function testing. LTA reference value is affected by several variables, for instance, ethnicity and difference of protocol among laboratories. To date, no study has been carried out to determine the reference value of LTA in Thai population. This study then aimed to analyze the reference value of LTA prospectively  performed at Haematology  Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University. Data were collected from January 2018  to December 2019.  The results revealed that the percentages of maximum aggregation which is the principal interpretative parameter of various studied agonists were the followings: 64.79 to 103.30% for 5 µg/mL collagen; 53.76 to 104.56% and 59.94 to 100.70% for 5 and 10  µmol/L epinephrine, respectively; 57.68  to 97.06% and 62.79  to 100.51% for 5 and 10  µmol/L ADP, respectively; 62.63  to 93.99% for 1.2 mg/mL ristocetin, and 63.32  to 99.12% for 1.2 mmol/L arachidonic acid. These revealed the contrast of results according to a previous study due to ethnicity and experimental protocol  differences.  Therefore, it is highly recommended that each laboratory establishes its own LTA reference value.