Detection of activated platelets with antibodies to thrombospondin

摘要

A diagnostic site-specific imaging reagent in the form of a receptor and an indicating means selectively binds to a specific cell membrane- associated antigen of a blood platelet that is in a stimulated active state but does not substantially bind to a platelet that is in a non- stimulated resting state. In particular, prelabelled monoclonal antibodies and polyclonal antibodies are prepared that bind and image thrombospondin when it is cell membrane-associated on a thrombin- stimulated platelet, thereby providing means for detecting and discriminating between a stimulated active blood platelet and a non- stimulated resting blood platelet.