Quantifying Platelet Gel Coagulation Using Sonoclot and Thrombelastograph Hemostasis Analyzer

Background: Little in vitro research exists discussing platelet gel composition and the resulting strength and degradation characteristics using point-of-care technologies. There must be a quantifiable way of determining the structural integrity of the resulting formed platelet gel thrombus. The Thrombelastograph Hemostasis Analyzer (TEG) and Sonoclot measure the elasticity of a clot as it forms and subsequently degrades naturally. The objective of this study was to determine the application of TEG and Sonoclot technologies as point-of-care devices for technicians using platelet gel therapy.

Methods: The collected bovine blood was anticoagulated with CPD and processed using a previously published plasma sequestration protocol, using normal saline as a wash solution. The resulting platelet-rich plasma was stored in a sequestration bag in a water bath to maintain the blood temperature at 37 degrees C. Sequestered bovine platelet-rich plasma was made into platelet gel using three different thrombin concentrations. A total of 30 experiments were performed on the platelet gel product using both the TEG and the Sonoclot.

Results: We discovered that 6 of the Sonoclot tests and 15 of the TEG tests were valid. None of the TEG clot signatures and nine of the Sonoclot signatures were discovered to be invalid. A chi2 test was performed on the resultant data. The value of the chi2 test was calculated to be 12.86, which translated into a p value of less than 0.001. Despite the vast use and growing popularity of platelet gels, a method in which to quantify platelet gels has yet to be reported. There remains a possibility that gels formed with different concentrations of components may prove useful in different areas of surgery or their uses may expand to a broader spectrum of medicine. However, technology to quantify platelet gels must first be standardized.

Conclusion: On the basis of the data collected in this study, it was determined that the TEG and the Sonoclot are not equally capable of analyzing platelet gel clots. The TEG is a valid means for analysis, whereas the Sonoclot provided unreliable analysis based on a Chi-squared test.