Platelet adhesive tests were carried out in parallel on whole blood and platelet-rich plasma. A column of glass microspherules was used and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) was added to the platelet-rich plasma before passage through the column. Preliminary observations were made to show the effect of the containers and the anticoagulant used. The influence on platelets when stored at 4 degrees C and standing or mixing at room temperature was also assessed. The apparatus used to measure adhesiveness was designed to produce a constant rate of flow through a standard column of glass microspherules. Using both methods, adhesiveness was studied on 70 healthy blood donors. The result showed a significant correlation between the level of adhesiveness found with each technique.
