A convenient, accurate, and reproducible method was developed and characterized to
test the effects of particulate solids and soluble agents on native whole blood. The
effects of citrate anticoagulation and of variation in flow and column parameters
were characterized by ancillary experiments. The study utilized a relatively homogeneous
strain of large rabbits that had received intravenous [C14]-serotonin as a platelet radiolabel. The assay included a 4 min contact time of either
the test sample or saline control with freshly drawn arterial blood and was followed
by a series of hemostatic measurements, both before and after passage of the blood
through a standard 1 g glass bead column. Changes induced by soluble (ADP, ellagic
acid, aspirin) and particulate (collagen) agents in the reactivity of this blood to
the subsequent challenge of a large area of reactive surface revealed reproducible
quantitative effects on platelets and clotting. Generally comparable results were
obtained with native whole human blood when the glass bead surface was adjusted (2
g) for the species difference in coagulability and platelet reactivity.
Keywords
Blood - Materials interaction, native whole blood assay
