Platelet function tests v1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Laboratory investigation of platelet function in genetic or acquired platelet function disorders.
IRAS ID
262225
Contact name
Alison Thomas
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
St George's Univeristy of London
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 3 months, 9 days
Research summary
Platelets are a key blood component essential for appropriate clotting in response to vessel injury. If functioning normally, platelets aggregate at the injury site forming a platelet plug and release granules to attract more platelets. Platelets are also the target for specific drugs prescribed in patients who are at risk of neurological or cardiac events as a result of inappropriate blood clotting. People with abnormalities in platelet numbers or platelet function are at risk of excessive bleeding. The recommended test to investigate platelet function or diagnose platelet function disorders was developed in 1962. Although other tests have been established more recently, there has been limited direct comparison between the recommended plasma-based method and the newer whole blood-based method. If comparable, investigating platelet function in whole blood would be better for patients as it is more representative of platelet function in the body, requires less blood and provides a quicker result for the patient. These two tests investigate platelet aggregation, and can be combined with another method to simultaneously investigate platelet release, again reducing time to diagnosis for the patient. This project will compare the performance of the combined methods in whole blood and plasma using patients in different clinical situations.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/EE/0180
Date of REC Opinion
2 Jul 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion