External Quality Assurance of Platelet Function Assays Results of the College of American Pathologists Proficiency Testing Program

Context.-The College of American Pathologists (CAP) developed proficiency testing for platelet function assays by using blood collected by the participant added to challenge tubes containing either saline (normal) or tirofiban (abnormal). Objective.-To analyze platelet function proficiency testing for Platelet Function Analyzer PFA-100, platelet aggregation, PlateletWorks, and PlateletMapping. Design.-Proficiency testing data from 2012-2016 were analyzed. Results.-For PFA-100, a total of 1200 laboratories participated; the coefficient variation (CV) of cartridge closure times was 22% (saline); 44,952 of 45,616 survey responses (99%) provided an interpretation, and 42,934 of 44,952 (96%) were correct. For optical platelet aggregation, 190 laboratories participated; the CV was 17% (saline), 7444 of 7813 survey responses (95%) provided an interpretation, and 7015 of 7444 (94%) were correct. For PlateletWorks, 60 laboratories participated; the CV was 3% to 11% (saline); 2412 of 2454 survey responses (98%) provided an interpretation, and 1207 of 1276 (95%) were correct for adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and 936 of 1136 (82%) for collagen. For PlateletMapping, 200 laboratories participated. For ADP, 1128 of 2697 survey responses (42%) provided an interpretation, but only 927 of 1128 (82%) were correct. For arachidonic acid, 1139 of 2604 survey responses (44%) provided an interpretation and 964 of 1139 (85%) were correct. Conclusions.-CAP is the first to provide proficiency testing for platelet aggregation, PlateletWorks, and PlateletMapping. Platelet aggregation, PFA-100, and PlateletWorks using ADP as an agonist performed well with more than 90% of laboratories providing an interpretation and a similar number providing correct results. PlateletWorks using collagen and PlateletMapping showed worse interpretive accuracy than the other methods.