aPTT: 1st Recognition for Human Whole Blood on QCM-D Platform

Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) assay for whole blood on quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) platform has been recognized for the first time. QCM-D platform is studied in parallel with ‘gold standard’ mechanical coagulometer in the perspective of anticoagulant bio-sensing. In this report, the lowest sample volume application of 1.66 µL of human whole blood for aPTT has been demonstrated. Mechanical coagulomter uses 60 times higher whole blood (and each reagent) volume application of 100 µL for aPTT laboratory experiments. This study is important in the terms of its robustness due to direct whole blood method and its cost-effectiveness due to lowest sample (and reagents) volume application. This could be fundamental support for spot test application by employing QCM-D in laboratory and sergry. Anticoagulant doses in 20 blood samples have been measured on QCM-D platform in comparison to ‘gold standard’. Each technique yielded relative standard deviation values between 7 and 15 depending on different doses of anticoagulant. Furthermore, QCM-D technique is advantageous over 'gold standard’ for additional monitoring of the whole kinetics of coagulation. It displays total coagulation recognition from frequency and dissipation shifts, which is impossible on 'gold standard’.