Determination of clopidogrel effect in cats using point-of-care Plateletworks ADP and shipped samples for PFA-200 analysis in a clinical practice setting.

Objectives: Clopidogrel is the recommended first-line antithrombotic in cats for a variety of conditions; however, it is ineffective in 15-20% of cats. The determination of clopidogrel effectiveness with platelet function assays has historically been limited to specialty centers; however, recent work has suggested that in-hospital or shipped analyses of samples may be feasible. The aim of the present study was to investigate the utility of an in-house analysis and shipping of blood samples collected in primary practices for the determination of clopidogrel effectiveness.

Investigation of Platelet Function Analyzer 200 platelet function measurements in healthy cats and cats receiving clopidogrel.

The Platelet Function Analyzer 200 (PFA-200; Siemens) is an in vitro substitute for in vivo bleeding time that is designed to investigate platelet function in a more physiologic manner than traditional aggregometry. The analyzer reports a closure time (CT) as a marker of platelet function, and may also report the calculated platelet function measurement primary hemostasis components, PHC1 and PHC2. These incorporate the measured total volume (TV) of blood aspirated and the initial flow rate (IF).

Validation of storage and shipping of feline blood samples for analysis on the Platelet Function Analyzer-200 for determining the effect of clopidogrel.

Background: The Platelet function analyzer-200 (PFA-200) can determine the effect of clopidogrel in cats, but analysis traditionally must be performed at point-of-care (POC). The ability to ship samples of blood to a laboratory would allow widespread access.

Objectives: We aimed to validate the shipping of blood samples for PFA-200 analysis in cats to determine the effect of clopidogrel.

Platelet function analyzer-200 closure curve analysis and assessment of flow-obstructed samples.

Background: The Platelet function analyzer-200 can determine the effect of clopidogrel in cats. Flow obstruction is an error that causes uninterpretable results. Closure curves and parameters initial flow rate (IF) and total volume (TV) are displayed by the PFA-200 and may allow interpretation of results in cases of flow obstruction.

Validation of Plateletworks ADP for the ProCyte Dx analyzer.

Background: Platelet function testing in cats allows determination of clopidogrel effect. Plateletworks assesses aggregation based on decreasing platelet counts on hematology analyzers in response to agonists. It has not been validated for the IDEXX ProCyte Dx analyzer.

Association between oral health status and retrovirus test results in cats.

Objective: To determine associations between oral health status and seropositivity for FIV or FeLV in cats.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Animals: 5,179 cats.