Geisinger Medical Laboratories Test Catalog

PLATELET AGGREGATION PANEL

• Test must be scheduled and collected at GMC (Danville, PA). To schedule please call the Hematology/Coagulation Laboratory at 570-271-6323.
• Patient’s platelet count should be >50,000/mm3 prior to testing. Patient should not be receiving aspirin containing medications, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or cardiovascular medications such as dipyridamole within two (2) weeks prior to testing.
• If the patient’s hematocrit (HCT) is >55%, the volume of anticoagulant in the tube must be adjusted. Contact a performing location for sodium citrate adjusted tubes.
• Avoid prolonged tourniquet time (< 1 minute) and hemolysis during collection as this will alter results.
• Blood may be drawn from an indwelling catheter or vascular access device. Draw sample from a lumen that has not been heparinized or flush the line with 5 mL of saline and discard/use first 5-10 mL of blood for other purposes.
• Tubes should be >90% filled.
• Immediately mix gently after collection by inverting the tube end over end 5 to 10 times. Avoid vigorous mixing or additional inversion. Observe for the presence of clots or hemolysis and recollect if observed.