Siemens PFA-100 Platelet Function Analyzer System

Siemens PFA-100 Platelet Function Analyzer System is an automated in vitro testing instrument that assesses primary hemostasis by simulating high-shear platelet adhesion and aggregation in a <1 mL whole-blood sample using disposable test cartridges coated with collagen plus epinephrine (CEPI) or collagen plus ADP (CADP); it reports a Closure Time (CT) in seconds, typically 5–8 minutes, reflecting how quickly a platelet plug forms under flow. The system supports detection of inherited, acquired, or drug-induced platelet dysfunction and is used for presurgical screening, evaluation of aspirin effect, and assessment of von Willebrand disease, including in children over 1 year of age. The PFA-100 is a microprocessor-controlled analyzer that combines rapid cartridge testing with automated data processing, and it originated from Dade Behring before Siemens integrated the product into its coagulation portfolio. The two cartridges—CEPI and CADP—provide complementary results, with aspirin-related inhibition often prolonging CEPI CT while CADP CT remains normal.