PB1273 - Exploring Shear-Induced Platelet Aggregation for Potential Diagnosis of Mild Bleeding Risk

Background: Traditional platelet function tests often overlook the influence of shear stress in vivo, posing challenges in achieving precise platelet function results. To overcome this limitation, we introduced an innovative microfluidic system tailored for platelet function testing. This system leverages upstream platelet activation and downstream aggregation mechanisms under high shear conditions, eliminating the need for agonists.

Aims: This study investigates the feasibility of diagnosing mild bleeding risk using a novel microfluidic system designed to operate under high shear stress.

Methods: Blood samples were collected from both healthy volunteers and individuals at risk of bleeding. These samples were then subjected to the microfluidic chip under various shear doses, representing shear rate and shearing time. Platelet function was assessed by measuring the migration distance of blood until the test section was blocked due to platelet aggregation.

Results: The application of various shear rates (188 s⁻¹ to 1571 s⁻¹) and shear exposure times (0 to 50 s) demonstrated a gradual decrease in migration distance (MD), with similar values observed in shear dose. In the healthy group, MD remained short at specific shear doses, while the patient group with bleeding risk exhibited a relatively longer MD. Moreover, the patient group with mild bleeding risk displayed a longer MD compared to the healthy group.

Conclusion(s): Our microfluidic system presents a novel and efficient approach to evaluating shear-induced platelet function. Despite the limited sample size, this study suggests the potential for diagnosing mild bleeding risk. Future study includes validating these findings with a more extensive sample size.