METHOD FOR A RAPID ANTIBODY-BASED ANALYSIS OF PLATELET POPULATIONS

摘要

A method for identifying a platelet population, preferably a population of immature, reticulated platelets, in a biological sample involving incubating the biological sample with at least one labeled ligand or monoclonal antibody that binds to an epitope or antigen on platelets, and with a nucleic acid dye. The sample is analyzed and one or more platelet populations is identified or quantified by passing the incubated sample through a flow cytometer. The incubated sample is irradiated with a laser light source, and fluorescence of the labeled ligand and the nucleic acid dye are measured along with at least one additional parameter, e g, light scatter, direct current, axial light loss, opacity, and radio frequency.These parameters are used to identify qualitatively or quantitatively the platelet populations in the sample. This method is particularly valuable in clinical situations where either low platelet counts or interfering conditions lead to inaccuracies of the platelet measurement.