Platelets are vital blood cells to maintain vascular integrity and foster tissue repair. However, in a range of disease states, they can become âinappropriatelyâ activated. To reduce this activation-risk anti- thrombotic drugs are routinely prescribed to many patients - a condition that is therapeutically effective may also increase the bleeding risk of the patient as a result of drug-induce platelet dysfunction. In circumstances of acute illness and trauma that mayinvolve bleeding, physicians may need to make rapid decisions re. effectiveness of a patientâs platelets as to coagulation competency; and the need for emergent platelet transfusions. Plakdx is addressing platelet aggregation as a tool to aid in this decision making - a rapid, proximate, inexpensive means of assessing platelet funct
