Parallel determination of von Willebrand Factor-Ristocetin and botrocetin cofactors

• Published in: Thrombosis research Vol. 75; no. 4; pp. 401 - 408
• Main Authors: Thomas, Kathy B., Tune, Erika P., Choong, Siew C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Ltd 15.08.1994; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Botrocetin; Cofactor Assay; Crotalid Venoms - analysis; Fixatives; Formaldehyde; Formalin; Hemagglutinins - analysis; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Humans; Medical sciences; Paraformaldehyde; Platelet diseases and coagulopathies; Polymers; Ristocetin; von Willebrand Factor; von Willebrand Factor - analysis; Paraformaldehyde; vWF:BCof; vWF; Botrocetin; Cofactor Assay; Formalin; von Willebrand Factor; vWF:RiCof; Ristocetin; NPP; Human; Platelet; Willebrand disease; Clinical biology; Hemopathy; Willebrand factor; Coagulation factor; Coagulopathy; Genetic disease; Quantitative analysis
• ISSN: 0049-3848; 1879-2472
• DOI: 10.1016/0049-3848(94)90255-0

The quantitative determinations of von Willebrand Factor (vWF)-Ristocetin cofactor (vWF:RCof) and the Botrocetin cofactor (vWF:BCof) are important parameters for the diagnosis of von Willebrand's disease. These cofactors are usually determined in a platelet aggregometer using separate platelet reagents and assay protocols. We describe a method for the preparation of platelets made from outdated platelet concentrates and fixed with paraformaldehyde which agglutinate to ristocetin and to botrocetin. The platelet agglutination assay protocol has been simplified such that the same aggregometer instrument, platelet reagent, buffers and the reaction volumes can be used for parallel determination of vWF:RCof and vWF:BCof.