IVBT-documented platelet function correlates with flow cytometric data.

Thrombocytopenic patients with identical platelet counts often show different bleeding tendencies owing to significant differences in the platelet function. This could be demonstrated by the in vitro bleeding test (IVBT). Using flow cytometry, we tried to find characteristics of platelet antigen expression in order to explain these differences in function.

Thrombocytopenia-adapted in vitro bleeding test assesses platelet function in thrombocytopenic patients.

Platelet counts do not always reflect the true bleeding risk in chronically thrombocytopenic patients, and the posttransfusion platelet increments do not necessarily demonstrate that therapeutic efficacy. There are no easy and reliable tests yet permitting the determination of platelet function in thrombocytopenic patients. The in-vitro bleeding test (IVBT) with the Thrombostat 4000 proved to be a very sensitive and specific test for the detection of platelet disorders.