PB1128 - A noble microfluidic-thromboelastograph (micro-TEG) analysis of whole blood coagulation and fibrinolysis

Background: Understanding of blood coagulation and fibrinolysis is critical for the management of patients who suffer from coagulopathies and need anticoagulation therapy. Conventional thromboelastograph (μ-TEG) analysis provided direct information including R-time, K-time, angle, MA and L30, which can help identify the hypercoagulable, hemorrhagic or fibrinoltic characteristic of blood samples. However, the shear environments of TEG assays are somewhat different from in-vivo hemodynamic shear flow.

Aims: We introduce an innovative approach, microfluidic thromboelastography (μ-TEG) that measures the viscoelastic properties of coagulating blood in a linear tube.

Methods: When periodic oscillatory pressure is applied, anticoagulant blood periodically travels back and forth a certain distance. The variation of reciprocating distance (amplitude) is monitored with a video or pressure sensor and analyzed. The period of a cycle is 10 seconds (0.1 Hz), tube diameter is 1.5 mm, the blood sample volume ranges 5 – 50 μL depending on tube diameter and length. A typical length of blood filled in a tube is 20 mm.

Results: When the blood is mixed with CaCl2 and kaolin, the reciprocating amplitude gradually decreased, showed a minimum value, and then slightly increased again. The obtained results using the newly developed μ-TEG system were analyzed and TEG variables including R-time, K-time, angle, MA and L30 within 10 min. We found that the μ-TEG system can observe the fibrinolysis phenomenon faster and more reliably compared to the existing TEG equipment, thereby reducing the experimental time innovatively.

Conclusion(s): The results of the present study suggest that μ-TEG would be a useful tool in blood clotting research, being capable of providing a global hemostasis profile in addition to detecting the instant of incipient clot formation. Additionally, due to the rapid assessment of a patient's coagulation status, the μ-TEG highlights the potential for point-of-care use.