Time from blood draw to multiple electrode aggregometry and association with platelet reactivity

Results from multiple electrode aggregometry (MEA) may vary according to pre-analytic factors. This study aimed to analyze the association of time from blood draw to MEA in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In this observational single-center cohort study, platelet aggregation (aggregation units, U) was quantified by MEA (Multiplate Analyzer) after stimulation with adenosine diphosphate (ADP; final concentration [Fc] 6.4 μM), thrombin receptor activating peptide (TRAP; Fc 32 μM), or arachidonic acid (AA; Fc 0.5 mM) in patients treated with ASA and clopidogrel following PCI. High on-clopidogrel platelet reactivity (HPR) was defined as ADP-induced platelet aggregation ≥ 46 U. The manufacturer recommends performing the analysis within 30–180 min after blood draw. Patients were grouped according to the time from blood draw to MEA: 30–180 min, < 30 min, or > 180 min. Platelet function of 273 patients with coronary artery disease undergoing PCI with dual antiplatelet therapy was analyzed. The median age was 72 years (interquartile range, IQR 62–79) and 179 (66%) were male. Median ADP-, TRAP-, and AA-induced aggregation was 25 (IQR 18–36) U, 79 (IQR 63–96) U, and 12 (IQR 7–18) U, respectively. For those analyzed within 30–180 min from blood draw, no significant correlation of time from blood draw to MEA was observed 1) ADP (r = − 0.04, p = 0.51); 2) TRAP (r = − 0.06, p = 0.32); 3) AA (r = − 0.03, p = 0.67). In patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention and treated with dual antiplatelet therapy, the time from blood draw to multiple electrode aggregometry does not correlate with ADP- induced aggregation when the measurement occurred within the recommended time interval of 30–180 min after blood draw. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11239-022-02720-7.