Variables That Affect Results of PFA-100 in a Group of Healthy Blood Donors in the Slovak Population

Background: The platelet function analyzer (PFA-100) is a system analyzing platelet function determined for detection of the functional inherited and acquired platelet disorders, screening of von Willebrand disease (vWD) and recently also considered as useful for monitoring of antiplatelet treatment. The PFA-100 test uses a high shear flow system to simulate in vitro the conditions to which platelets are subjected at the site of a damaged blood vessel wall.

Aim of study: We decided to establish the reference intervals of PFA closure time (CT) in the Slovak population of healthy blood donors.

Patients and methods: Fifty age and gender matched healthy blood donors were enrolled in the study. We investigated the relationships between PFA-100 CT, gender and ABO blood groups.

Results: The reference intervals for CT measured on CEPI (collagen/epinephrine) and CADP (collagen/adenosine diphosphate) cartridge in 3.2% citrated blood were 86 - 199 sec. and 42 - 119 sec., respectively. Blood group O was associated with significantly longer CEPI CT (p<0.05) compared to non - O groups. The prolongation of CADP CT in blood donors with blood group O was without significance. The influence of gender as another variable analyzed with CT has not been evaluated as statistically significant.

Conclusion: PFA-100 CT should be interpreted carefully with consideration of both the patient’s clinical presentation and laboratory variables such as ABO blood group.