We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us
LGC Clinical Diagnostics

PERKIN ELMER CORPORATION

PerkinElmer provides detection technologies to detect and identify diseases, imaging technologies to help visualize s... read more Featured Products: More products

Download Mobile App




COVID-19 Induces a Hyperactive Phenotype in Circulating Platelets

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 15 Mar 2021
Print article
Image: The Wallac 1420 Victor 2 Multi-Label Microplate Reader (Photo courtesy of  Perkin Elmer).
Image: The Wallac 1420 Victor 2 Multi-Label Microplate Reader (Photo courtesy of Perkin Elmer).
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is characterized by a marked pro-inflammatory response with fever, elevated inflammatory markers, and clinical and radiological features of pneumonitis being evident among affected individuals.

A complex interplay is known to exist between pro-inflammatory pathway activity and blood coagulation activation; this interplay appears to represent a source of morbidity among SARS-CoV-2–infected patients, particularly among those with severe disease. Recent postmortem studies have shown evidence of widespread thrombosis in pulmonary vasculature and other organs.

A large team of Biochemical Scientists from the University College Dublin (Dublin, Ireland) and their medical colleagues at Mater Misericordiae University Hospital (Dublin, Ireland) collected datasets describing clinical laboratory parameters among 34 hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 requiring critical care support, 20 non-severe COVID-19 not requiring critical care, and 20 non-COVID-19–affected medical inpatients not requiring critical care, were compiled from routine clinical testing results. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed in all cases by RT-PCR analysis of nasopharyngeal swab specimens.

The team collected blood samples and isolated platelets for the ATP secretion assay and luminescence was measured immediately using a Perkin Elmer 1420 96-well plate reader (Waltham, MA, USA). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were performed for thrombopoietin, P-selectin, and platelet factor 4 (R&D Systems, Abingdon, UK). Optical density was determined at 450 nm within 30 minutes on a Dynex DS2 (Dynex Technologies, Worthing, UK).

The scientists demonstrated that routine clinical blood parameters including increased mean platelet volume (MPV) and decreased platelet:neutrophil ratio are associated with disease severity in COVID-19 upon hospitalization and intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Strikingly, agonist-induced ADP release was 30- to 90-fold higher in COVID-19 patients compared with hospitalized controls and circulating levels of platelet factor 4 (PF4), soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin), and thrombopoietin (TPO) were also significantly elevated in COVID-19. The team showed that distinct differences exist in routine full blood count and other clinical laboratory parameters between patients with severe and non-severe COVID-19.

The authors concluded that their study indicated that platelets from patients infected with COVID-19 display a hyperactive phenotype, a factor which may contribute to thrombotic risk. These data suggest abnormal platelet reactivity may contribute to hypercoagulability in COVID-19 and confirms the role that platelets/clotting has in determining the severity of the disease and the complexity of the recovery path. The study was published on February 17, 2021 in the journal PLOS BIOLOGY.

Related Links:
R&D Systems
University College Dublin
Mater Misericordiae University Hospital
Perkin Elmer
Dynex Technologies


Platinum Member
COVID-19 Rapid Test
OSOM COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test
Specimen Collection & Transport
POCT Fluorescent Immunoassay Analyzer
FIA Go
Gold Member
Xylazine Immunoassay Test
Xylazine ELISA

Print article

Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: Reaching speeds up to 6,000 RPM, this centrifuge forms the basis for a new type of inexpensive, POC biomedical test (Photo courtesy of Duke University)

POC Biomedical Test Spins Water Droplet Using Sound Waves for Cancer Detection

Exosomes, tiny cellular bioparticles carrying a specific set of proteins, lipids, and genetic materials, play a crucial role in cell communication and hold promise for non-invasive diagnostics.... Read more

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: The study showed the blood-based cancer screening test detects 83% of people with colorectal cancer with specificity of 90% (Photo courtesy of Guardant Health)

Blood Test Shows 83% Accuracy for Detecting Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is the second biggest cause of cancer deaths among adults in the U.S., with forecasts suggesting 53,010 people might die from it in 2024. While fewer older adults are dying from this... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: The new platform is designed to perform blood-based diagnoses of nontuberculosis mycobacteria (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

New Blood Test Cuts Diagnosis Time for Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Infections from Months to Hours

Breathing in nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is a common experience for many people. These bacteria are present in water systems, soil, and dust all over the world and usually don't cause any problems.... Read more

Industry

view channel
Image: These new assays are being developed for use on the recently introduced DxI 9000 Immunoassay Analyzer (Photo courtesy of Beckman Coulter)

Beckman Coulter and Fujirebio Expand Partnership on Neurodegenerative Disease Diagnostics

Beckman Coulter Diagnostics (Brea, CA, USA) and Fujirebio Diagnostics (Tokyo, Japan) have expanded their partnership focused on the development, manufacturing and clinical adoption of neurodegenerative... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.