Novel Uses for Platelet Function Testing in the Clinical Laboratory: Where Are We Now?

Platelet function testing has traditionally been used to diagnose inherited qualitative and quantitative defects in platelet function, such as Von Willebrand disease, but with the increased use of anti-platelet agents to prevent arterial thrombosis and the interest in identifying patients at risk for thrombosis despite anti-platelet therapy, the use of platelet function testing to monitory response to anti-platelet therapy, for example, aspirin, has become a hot topic.