The Total Thrombus formation Analysis System (T-TAS®) is an automated microchip flow chamber system used to quantify the process of thrombus formation under blood flow conditions.  The T-TAS® 01 enables the ex vivo evaluation of overall hemostatic ability that more closely resembles in vivo conditions than other methodologies.

Technology Behind T-TAS

The T-TAS® 01 measures multiple integrated physical and physiologic properties of collagen- and shear force-stimulated platelets through the formation of the platelet plug during primary hemostasis.  The T-TAS® 01 measures temporal changes in the pressure differential required to flow a specific volume of whole blood through the test flow channel.  In this method, the patient sample is flowed through the collagen-coated test channels at a constant rate.  As the platelets adhere, activate, and aggregate to the walls of the microfluidic channels and to other platelets, the channels begin to occlude.  The pressure required for the same volume of blood to flow through the occluding channel is measured in real-time by highly sensitive pressure sensors.

T-TAS Consumables

The PL Chip for T-TAS® 01 is designed for the analysis of primary hemostatic dysfunction and to monitor anti-platelet therapeutics in patients.  Each individual test contains 26 collagen-coated capillary channels in parallel for internal quality control purposes.  Each chip is sufficient to run two samples.	The BAPA tube is intended to be used for the collection, transport, and storage of blood specimens for use with the PL Chip and T-TAS® 01 system.  BAPA (Benzylsulfonyl-1-D-arginyl-prolyl-4-amidobenzylamide) is an inhibitor of both Factor Xa and thrombin (Factor IIa).  This allows for complete anticoagulation of blood without interfering with physiological levels of calcium ions, unlike sodium citrate.
The AR Chip for T-TAS® 01 is designed to study the complex web of biochemical and biophysical reactions that occur between primary hemostasis and the coagulation cascade system at the site of vascular injury.  Under flow conditions, platelet activation and the coagulation processes are dynamically intertwined with one another and are affected by platelets, coagulation factors, and their various inhibitors and activators. The AR Chip is RUO in the US and Canada.	The HD Chip for T-TAS® 01 is designed to study primary hemostasis, much like the AR Chip, but under thrombocytopenic or hemi-diluted sample conditions.  The special design of the HD Chip allows the T-TAS® 01 to be effective with as few as 10,000 platelets per microliter. The HD Chip is RUO in the US and Canada.