Abstract
Objective—To investigate the effects of formaldehyde fixation on equine platelets using flow cytometric methods to evaluate markers of platelet activation.
Sample Population—Blood samples from 6 Thoroughbreds.
Procedure—The degree of fluorescence associated with binding of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated anti-human fibrinogen antibody and FITCannexin V in unactivated and adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-, platelet activating factor (PAF)-, and A23187- activated platelet samples in unfixed and 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0% formaldehyde-fixed samples was assessed by use of flow cytometry.
Results—In samples incubated with FITC-anti-human fibrinogen antibody prior to fixation, addition of 2.0% formaldehyde resulted in a 30% increase in total fluorescence in ADP- and PAF-activated samples and a 60% increase in A23187-activated samples. Fixation for 24 hours prior to addition of antibody resulted in reduced fluorescence of samples containing antihuman fibrinogen antibody for all 3 concentrations of formaldehyde in PAF-activated samples. The addition of all 3 concentrations of formaldehyde after incubation with FITC-annexin V resulted in significant increases in fluorescence in unactivated and activated platelet samples. As length of fixation time increased, there was a gradual increase in fluorescence that was significant at 24 hours.
Conclusion and Clinical Relevance—Because fixation with 2.0% formaldehyde results in significant changes in fluorescence in activated platelet samples containing anti-fibrinogen antibody, lower concentrations of formaldehyde should be used to fix equine platelet samples. Formaldehyde-fixed platelet samples should be analyzed within 12 hours of fixation to avoid artifactual increases in fluorescence. Fixation of samples containing FITC-annexin V should be avoided because of significant increases in fluorescence that may interfere with interpretation of results. (Am J Vet Res 2002;63:840–844)
