OpenLB
Open Library of Bioscience

Platelets play a key role in the pathogenesis of atherothrombosis, and also perform the physiological hemostasis. The platelet function assays have values in the investigating patients with suspected platelet disorders and in studying the effects of anti-platelet drugs. There are increasing assays for investigating platelet function, including assessment of platelet adhesion, activation and aggregation, etc. However, all of these assays have certain limited sensitivity. It is necessary to develop a simple, sensitive assay that measures the activated platelet. This article reviewed advances of researches on platelet function assays, including assay for general function of platelet, assay of platelet adhesion function, platelet activation assay, platelet aggregation assay, platelet coagulation assay and application of flow cytometry in assessment of platelet functions, etc. and looked forward to research prospect in this field.