Microvesicles (MVs) can be analyze using two complementary methods:
- Quantitative tests: Flow cytometry (FCM) is used to count microvesicles (MVs) and determine their cellular origin.
- Functional tests: Various methods can be used to assess procoagulant properties resulting from the action of procoagulant phospholipids and/or tissue factor (TF).
Quantitative tests
Because microvesicles (MVs) are so small, their analysis pushes flow cytometry (FCM) instruments to their optical sensitivity limits.
Various assays are currently available, including FCM reagents, allowing for great precision of MV count to:
- Ensure good intrinsic performance of the cytometer in MV analysis
- Set-up a standardized MV reading gate
- Ensure setting stability over time with daily quality control
- Standardize all cytometer models
The Megamix line of calibration beads, optimized for MV detection and characterization can be a useful tool for those points.
Functional tests
MVs have procoagulant properties due to the procoagulant phospholipids (PPL) and/or tissue factor (TF) found on their surface. The functional level of procoagulant activity can be measured using functional tests.
Functional based assays examine the observed effect of MVs in citrated plasma samples in assays such as:
- Thrombin generation to measure thrombin generated solely by PPL-bearing MVs or TF-bearing MVs.
- Clotting-based assays for determination of procoagulant phospholipids dependent activity of mainly platelet MVs or TF-dependent procoagulant activity of MVs [Vallier et al.]
Download the Microvesicles Line brochure
