Novel Uses for Platelet Function Testing in the Clinical Laboratory: Where Are We Now?

Summary: Platelet function testing has traditionally been used to diagnose inherited qualitative and quantitative defects in platelet function, such as Von Willebrand disease, but with the increased use of anti-platelet agents to prevent arterial thrombosis and the interest in identifying patients at risk for thrombosis despite anti-platelet therapy, the use of platelet function testing to monitory response to anti-platelet therapy, for example, aspirin, has become a hot topic.