Pneumatic tube system transport does not alter platelet function in optical and whole blood aggregometry, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, platelet count and fibrinogen in patients on anti-platelet drug therapy.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to assess pneumatic tube system (PTS) alteration on platelet function by the light transmission aggregometry (LTA) and whole blood aggregometry (WBA) method, and on the results of platelet count, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and fibrinogen.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Venous blood was collected into six 4.5 mL VACUETTE® 9NC coagulation sodium citrate 3.8% tubes (Greiner Bio-One International GmbH, Kremsmünster, Austria) from 49 intensive care unit (ICU) patients on dual anti-platelet therapy and immediately hand carried to the central laboratory. Blood samples were divided into 2 Groups: Group 1 samples (N = 49) underwent PTS (4 m/s) transport from the central laboratory to the distant laboratory and back to the central laboratory, whereas Group 2 samples (N = 49) were excluded from PTS forces. In both groups, LTA and WBA stimulated with collagen, adenosine-5'-diphosphate (ADP), arachidonic acid (AA) and thrombin-receptor-activated-peptide 6 (TRAP-6) as well as platelet count, PT, APTT, and fibrinogen were performed.
RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were observed between blood samples with (Group 1) and without (Group 2) PTS transport (P values from 0.064 - 0.968). The AA-induced LTA (bias: 68.57%) exceeded the bias acceptance limit of ≤ 25%.
CONCLUSIONS: Blood sample transportation with computer controlled PTS in our hospital had no statistically significant effects on platelet aggregation determined in patients with anti-platelet therapy. Although AA induced LTA showed a significant bias, the diagnostic accuracy was not influenced.

Introduction

Platelets play a key role in primary hemostasis. The principal function is stopping hemorrhage and preventing blood loss, when vessel walls are injured (). Platelets interacting with the exposed matrix adhere, become activated, and as a consequence bind further platelets to form a thrombus limited in size. Specific platelet receptors are involved in each of these phases ().

Platelet function testing has become essential for identifying patients with platelet dysfunction and for monitoring modern anti-platelet therapy. In hemostasis laboratories, platelet aggregometry has been established one of the most widely used platelet function testing procedures (). Light transmission aggregometry (LTA), which was developed in 1962 by Born and O’Brien, and impedance whole blood aggregometry (WBA) are the two main types of methodologies available (-).

Since platelets are sensitive to artificial manipulation, preanalytical variables may influence hemostasis testing in laboratories. The tourniquet application time is reported biasing platelet function testing by multiple electrode aggregometry (MEA) (Multiplate®) (). Moreover, in clinical routine laboratories different vacuum tubes may represent a relevant source of variability on the determination of the mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width (). Recently, one study concluded that physical exercise in cold water also represents a stress factor, which may cause increased platelet counts (). Preanalytical variables are often outside the control of hemostasis laboratories and the leading causes of diagnostic error (). Several crucial steps in the preanalytical phase, such as correct blood collection, blood sample handling, transport and storage of specimens are essential parts to get valid and timely laboratory test results ().

Over the last years, in many hospitals pneumatic tube systems (PTS) have been established for blood sample transport between departments and outpatient clinics. PTS is considered an efficient and cost effective transport solution specially designed to handle automated blood specimen transport in routine and emergency settings. Nevertheless, blood samples transported by PTS are often subjected to high speed (up to 7.6 m/s) accompanied by rapid acceleration and deceleration causing shear stress (). Changes in air pressure, vibrations and shaking of blood samples are considered to affect various laboratory parameters including coagulation assays ().

In the literature, various studies have been performed on the effects of PTS on popular point-of-care thromboelastometry (ROTEM®) analysis. A study by Amann et al. including 20 healthy volunteers reported statistically significant changes (P values < 0.001) in multiple ROTEM® parameters transported by PTS (). In contrast, Colucci et al. observed no statistically significant differences (P values from 0.381 – 0.978) between pneumatic delivery and hand carried transport in 30 whole blood samples of healthy volunteers (). While study results of PTS effects on ROTEM® analyses are discordant, only few data are available about platelet alteration after blood sample transportation with PTS on LTA and WBA, respectively. An overview on previously published original research articles investigating PTS effects on platelet function testing is given in Table 1.

Table 1

Previously published original research articles investigating pneumatic tube system effects on platelet function testing

Year	Author	Journal	Subjects, N	Methods	PTS effect	Reference
2004	Dyszkiewicz-Korpanty et al.	JTH	27	PFA-100TMImpedance WBA	CADP ↑Ω ↓	18
2005	Walin et al.	CCLM	28	PFA-100TM	No effect	19
2009	Bollinger et al.	Platelets	50	Multiplate®	Aggregation ↓	20
2010	Hübner et al.	Clin Lab	15	PFA-100TMOptical LTA	CADP ↑Aggregation ↓	21
2013	Glas et al.	Platelets	12	Multiplate®ROTEM	Aggregation ↓EXTEM CT ↑	22
2013	Thalén et al.	Thromb Res	58	Multiplate®	Aggregation ↓	23
JTH – Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis. CCLM – Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine. Clin Lab – Clinical Laboratory. Thromb Res – Thrombosis Research. PFA – platelet function analyzer. CADP – collagen membrane coated with ADP. WBA – whole blood aggregometry. Ω – impedance. LTA – light transmission aggregometry. ROTEM – rotational thrombelastometry. EXTEM – extrinsic rotational thrombelastometry. CT – clotting time. ↑ – increased. ↓ – decreased.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of PTS on the results of LTA, WBA, platelet count, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and fibrinogen.

Materials and methods

Subjects

This experimental study was conducted at the Medical University of Graz (Graz, Austria). The study period was from 01th January to 31th December 2008. A total of 49 patients from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, who were on full dual anti-platelet drug therapy with 100 mg acetyl-salicylate acid and 75 mg clopidogrel daily, were included. Thirty-six (0.74) patients were male and 13 (0.26) were female. The median age was 65 (range: 47 – 89) years. This study was carried out in accordance with the latest version of the Declaration of Helsinki given by the World Medical Association. The ethical approval was provided by the Ethical Committee of the Medical University of Graz (Graz, Austria). All study subjects gave written informed consent for participation in the study.

Blood sampling

Blood sampling was done in the morning without obligatory fasting state. From all 49 study participants venous blood was collected into six 4.5 mL VACUETTE® 9NC coagulation sodium citrate 3.8% tubes (Greiner Bio-One International GmbH, Kremsmünster, Austria). Immediately after the venipuncture, all vacuum tubes (6 x 49) were gently inverted five times and hand carried by our laboratory personal to the core laboratory of our hospital. In the central laboratory blood samples were divided in Group 1 (3 x 49 tubes) and Group 2 (3 x 49 tubes) without delay. Group 1 blood samples were transported with the PTS from the central laboratory to the distant laboratory and returned again with the PTS from the distant laboratory to the central laboratory. Group 2 blood samples were excluded from PTS transport.

After transport all collected blood samples stored 30 minutes at room temperature. The original vacuum tubes 1 (Group 1 and Group 2) were gently inverted 5 times and 8 x 450 µL were pipetted in duplicates in each channel of a 4 channel Chronolog 700 Aggregometer (Chronolog Corporation, Havertown, Pennsylvania, USA) to perform impedance WBA. The original vacuum tubes 2 and 3 (Group 1 and Group 2) were centrifuged at 110 x g for 15 minutes at room temperature to obtain platelet rich plasma (PRP), using a GS-15 centrifuge (Beckman Coulter GmbH, Vienna, Austria). The PRP was removed from tubes 2 and 3 and mixed in 15 mL Eppendorf Conical Tubes® (Eppendorf Austria GmbH, Vienna, Austria) for further analysis. From the Eppendorf Conical Tubes®, 8 x 450 µL were pipetted in duplicates in each channel of a 4 channel Chronolog 700 Aggregometer (Chronolog Corporation, Havertown, Pennsylvania, USA) to perform LTA. Platelet count was performed from PRP on the Sysmex XE-2100TM Automated Hematology System (Sysmex Austria GmbH, Vienna, Austria). Approximately 2.7 mL blood was left in each of the original vacuum tubes 2 and 3 (Group 1 and Group 2), which were centrifuged once more at 2800 x g for 15 minutes at room temperature to obtain platelet poor plasma (PPP). PPP was used for PT, APTT and fibrinogen measurements and for blank value determinations of the aggregometer.

Methods

Pneumatic tube system (PTS)

Blood samples of Group 1 (3 x 49 tubes) were transported by a computer controlled PTS (Swisslog Rohrpostsysteme GmbH, Westerstede, Germany) using standard pneumatic tube carriers. One distance was about 500 m with a mean transit time of 2 min. As a result Group 1 samples (3 x 49 tubes) were subjected a twice done acceleration and deceleration during transportation process with PTS, whereas Group 2 samples (3 x 49 tubes) were excluded from PTS transport.

After computer controlled acceleration an average velocity of 4m/s was used. Special receiving stations with controlled deceleration delivered softly the pneumatic tube carrier on special exit conveyor belts.

Light transmission aggregometry (LTA)

LTA was performed in duplicates using a 4 channel Chronolog 700 Aggregometer (Chronolog Corporation, Havertown, Pennsylvania, USA). After pipetting 450 µL PRP in each channel, aggregation was induced using final concentrations of 2 µg/mL collagen (Chronolog Corporation, Havertown, Pennsylvania, USA), 10 µmol/L adenosine 5’-diphosphate (ADP) (Sigma-Aldrich Handels GmbH, Vienna, Austria), 0.5 mmol/L arachidonic acid (AA) (Chronolog Corporation, Havertown, Pennsylvania, USA), and 40 µmol/L thrombin receptor-activated peptide 6 (TRAP-6) (Bachem Distribution Services GmbH, Weil/Rhein, Germany). Light transmission (% aggregation and area under the curve (AUC)) was measured in Group 1 and 2 and compared statistically. A maximal amplitude of < 5% and an AUC of < 75 were interpreted as total inhibition of platelet function depending on the above mentioned platelet aggregation inducing reagents. Daily quality control (QC) measurements were performed with normal plasma of healthy volunteers. Coefficients of variation (CV) for light transmission % and AUC were as follows: collagen - 4.01 and 3.18%, respectively; ADP - 3.38 and 6.53%, respectively; AA - 2.19 and 4.94%, respectively; TRAP - 4.14 and 2.5%, respectively.

Impedance whole blood aggregometry (WBA)

Impedance WBA was performed in duplicates using a 4 channel Chronolog 700 Aggregometer (Chronolog Corporation, Havertown, Pennsylvania, USA). After pipetting 450 µL whole blood in each channel, aggregation was induced with the same agents and final concentrations as described above. The impedance (Ω and AUC) was measured in Group 1 and 2 samples and compared statistically. A maximal impedance of < 0.5 Ω and an AUC of < 5 and were interpreted as total inhibition of platelet function depending on the above mentioned platelet aggregation inducing reagents. Daily QC measurements were performed with normal plasma of healthy volunteers. Coefficients of variation for impedance Ω and AUC were as follows: collagen - 4.06 and 10.9%, respectively; ADP - 13.47 and 12.38%, respectively; AA - 13.72 and 8.72%, respectively; TRAP - 12.06 and 10.52%, respectively.

Coagulation parameters

The number of platelets was determined on the Sysmex XE-2100TM Automated Hematology System (Sysmex Austria GmbH, Vienna, Austria). The PT (Thromborel® S reagent, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics GmbH, Vienna, Austria), APTT (Pathromtin® SL reagent, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics GmbH, Vienna, Austria), and fibrinogen (Multifibren® U reagent, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics GmbH, Vienna, Austria) were measured on the Siemens/Dade Behring BCS XP Analyzer Automated Coagulation System (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics GmbH, Vienna, Austria). Daily QC measurements were performed with commercially available control material within the normal and pathological ranges (Control Plasma N and P (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics GmbH, Vienna, Austria): PT 73.0 - 109.0% and 32 - 48%; APTT 28.0 - 38.0 s and 70 - 105 s; fibrinogen 2.2 - 3.2 g/L and 0.6 - 1.4 g/L, respectively; e-CHECK®(XE) (Sysmex Austria GmbH): platelet counts 195 – 240 G/L, 30 – 75 G/L and 480 - 580 G/L). Inter-assay precision was calculated with results of minimum 20 consecutive days. One tenfold measurement was performed at one day to determine the intra-assay precision. The intra- and inter-assay CV were as follows: for PT 1.71 and 3.26%, respectively; for PT-INR 2.43 and 3.24%, respectively; for APTT 2.31 and 2.83%, respectively; for fibrinogen 1.23 and 2.87%, respectively; and for platelet count 1.23 and 3.4%, respectively.

Statistical analysis

The distribution of data was calculated with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The non-parametric Wilcoxon test was used for comparisons of parameters between Group 1 and Group 2. Not normally distributed data were described in medians (Q1 – Q3). A P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Bias calculation was performed and compared with available acceptance criteria in accordance with the Milano hierarchy (). The calculated biases were compared to the acceptance limits based on the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) for analytical quality (). SPSS Statistics for Windows version 22.0 (IBM SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA) was used for statistical analysis.

Results

The results of platelet function testing with LTA and WBA, and the coagulation parameters (i.e., platelet count, PT, APTT, and fibrinogen) between blood samples of Group 1 (N = 49) and Group 2 (N = 49) and the mean bias are shown in Table 2. All parameters investigated in the present study were not normally distributed and are presented in medians (Q1 – Q3). No statistically significant differences were observed between blood samples transported with (Group 1) and without PTS (Group 2) (P values from 0.064 – 0.968).

Table 2

Light transmission, impedance and coagulation parameters

LTA		Group 1(N = 49)	Group 2(N = 49)	P value	Bias (%)	Bias criteria (%)
Collagen-induced	%	28.0 (16.8 – 47.0)	28.5 (14.0 – 50.0)	0.592	1.75	≤ 25
	AUC	222.2 (112.1 – 337.1)	227.7 (99.3 – 376.4)	0.682	2.42	≤ 25
ADP-induced	%	33.0 (24.0 – 40.8)	35.5 (21.0 – 43.0)	0.406	7.04	≤ 25
	AUC	280.8 (138.6 – 338.6)	279.9 (127.2 – 362.4)	0.568	0.32	≤ 25
AA-induced	%	2.0 (1.0 – 11.0)	2.0 (1.0 – 16.3)	0.741	0.0	≤ 25
	AUC	23.6 (0.25 – 51.35)	14.0 (0.0 – 52.5)	0.064	68.57	≤ 25
TRAP-6-induced	%	51.0 (35.0 – 59.0)	52.0 (43.5 – 62.0)	0.141	1.92	≤ 25
	AUC	441.6 (290.6 – 512.8)	438.6 (348.3 – 521.4)	0.915	0.68	≤ 25
WBA
Collagen-induced	Ω	8.0 (5.0 – 11.0)	8.0 (4.0 – 12.0)	0.444	0.0	≤ 25
	AUC	44.8 (18.8 – 66.1)	40.1 (18.6 – 74.9)	0.165	11.72	≤ 25
ADP-induced	Ω	2.0 (0.0 – 5.3)	2.5 (1.0 – 7.0)	0.180	20.0	≤ 25
	AUC	8.55 (0.0 – 31.6)	11.0 (0.0 – 42.5)	0.361	22.27	≤ 25
AA-induced	Ω	0.0 (0.0 – 0.0)	0.0 (0.0 – 0.0)	0.549	0.0	≤ 25
	AUC	0.0 (0.0 – 0.0)	0.0 (0.0 – 0.0)	0.286	0.0	≤ 25
TRAP-6-induced	Ω	3.0 (1.0 – 9.0)	3.0 (1.0 – 9.0)	0.733	0.0	≤ 25
	AUC	22.9 (5.6 – 70.7)	25.2 (2.1 – 65.4)	0.266	9.13	≤ 25
Coagulation parameters
Platelets (WB)Platelets (PRP)	x 109/L	94.0 (66.0 – 142.0)	94.0 (66.0 – 139.0)	0.418	0.0	≤ 25
	x 109/L	175.0 (114.0 – 267.0)	170.0 (123.0 – 267.0)	0.176	2.94	≤ 25
PT	INR	1.1 (1.0 – 1.3)	1.1 (1.0 – 1.3)	0.968	0.0	≤ 15
	%	91.0 (72.0 – 107.0)	92.0 (75.0 – 107.0)	0.909	1.09	≤ 15
APTT	s	42.4 (38.3 – 49.8)	43.5 (38.3 – 49.7)	0.426	2.53	≤ 15
Fibrinogen	g/L	6.3 (3.6 – 7.9)	6.1 (3.6 – 8.0)	0.726	3.30	≤ 20
LTA - light transmission aggregometry. WBA - whole blood aggregometry. Ω – impedance. Group 1 – blood samples transported with pneumatic tube system (PTS). Group 2 – blood samples transported without PTS. ADP – adenosine diphosphate. AA – arachidonic acid. TRAP-6 – thrombin receptor-activated peptide 6. AUC – area under the curve. WB – whole blood. PRP – platelet rich plasma. PT – prothrombin time. INR – international normalized ratio. APTT – activated partial thromboplastin time. Differences between Group 1 and Group 2 were evaluated using the Wilcoxon test. Data are presented as medians (Q1 – Q3). P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Bias criteria according to reference 17.

Discussion

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study reporting data about PTS effects on both, optical aggregometry as well as impedance aggregrometry measurements in patients on anti-platelet drug therapy. The results referred only to patients on dual acetyl-salicylate acid and clopidogrel therapy and not on healthy individuals. Overall 49 study participants were included in this experimental study.

In comparison, previously published studies on the subject of PTS effects on platelet aggregation tests were designed with 12 to 58 subjects ( - ) (Table 1). Two studies, comprising 58 and 50 individuals, observed significant influence on impedance WBA with a Multiplate® analyzer (, ). In both studies, detailed information about speed of sample transport and other characteristics of the PTS, that may strongly affect pre-analytical quality are lacking. Reducing speed is considered to avoid pre-analytical alteration of blood samples (). However, different PTS configurations could be a potential reason for various results and observations of published data.

In the present study both methodologies, namely LTA as well as WBA were performed to study PTS effects on platelet function. These methods are usually performed in specialized clinical hemostasis laboratories. Beside these traditional tests, previously published studies about PTS effects on platelet function used especially modern commercially available point-of-care testing methods, such as the multichannel WBA with Multiplate® system or the relatively simple PFA-100TM technology, measuring platelet aggregation as a function of the time it takes to occlude the aperture ().

Poor correlation among different platelet function testing modalities may be one limitation in comparison and clinical interpretation of different study results. Moreover, different agonists are used to induce platelet aggregation. Herein we used the aggregation agonists collagen (2 µg/mL), ADP (10 µmol/L), AA (0.5 mmol/L), and TRAP-6 (40 µmol/L) with final concentrations as recommended by the manufacturer. In comparison Dyszkiewicz-Korpanty et al. recruited 27 healthy volunteers and used collagen (2 µg/mL), ADP (10 µmol/L) and AA (0.5 mmol/L) to perform impedance WBA (), whereas Hübner et al. recruited 15 healthy subjects and used collagen (2 µg/mL and 5 µg/mL), ADP (10 µmol/L) and ristocetin (1.25 g/L) to perform optical LTA (). One previously published study about PTS effects on the Multiplate® system was performed with 58 individuals (32 healthy individuals, 14 patients with cardiovascular disease treated with aspirin and/or clopidogrel, 8 patients from an ICU, and 4 patients from a coagulation clinic) using final concentrations of 0.0032 µg collagen, 0.0065 µmol ADP, 0.4839 µmol AA, 0.3076 µg ristocetin and 0.0322 µmol TRAP in each corresponding well (). Another study on the Multiplate® system evaluated 50 patients with acetyl-salicylate acid therapy using AA (0.5 mmol/L) and TRAP (32 µmol/L) only ().

Considering these various study designs performed with different agonists and concentrations, the major limitation of data comparison is the lack of standardization in platelet function testing. Widespread accepted uniform guidelines on how laboratories should perform clinical testing for disorders of platelet function are still not available (, ). Results of two surveys of the North American Specialized Coagulation Laboratory Association (NASCOLA) demonstrated that agonist concentrations varied widely and that various methods were used to obtain reference intervals for platelet aggregation testing (). Although LTA is considered to be the “gold standard” for in vitro platelet function testing in both clinical and research laboratories, no evidence-based guidelines for the performance and interpretation of studies with this technique are established yet (, ). Moreover no proper commercial controls are available for the different platelet function assays to examine the validity of the test results.

In the present study the mean bias of the investigated parameters between blood samples transported with (Group 1) and without PTS (Group 2) ranged from 0.0 to 68.57%. Compared to the available acceptance criteria in accordance with the Milano hierarchy (, ), analytical performance evaluation studies may be influenced by the measurement quality, the actual test method used, and the investigated study population. Therefore standardized platelet function testing procedures with commercially available QC material for LTA and WBA is required in order to improve analytical quality and reproducibility.

The major limitation of this study is that healthy subjects, who were not on anti-platelet therapy, were not included. We cannot omit a protective effect on acetyl-salicylate acid and clopidogrel during transportation. Nevertheless, the added value of this study is that potential PTS effects were investigated on platelet function testing with the LTA as well as the WBA method.

In conclusion, blood sample transportation with soft motion computer controlled PTS, as installed in our hospital, had no statistically significant effects on platelet aggregation measured with optical and impedance aggregometry in patients with dual anti-platelet therapy. Although AA induced LTA showed a significant bias, the diagnostic accuracy was not influenced at all. Further investigation on healthy subjects without anti-platelet therapy should be performed.