This series, published in Thrombosis Journal, aims to bring together the latest information about global assays, to describe their action and to review their medical usefulness.
The standard assays currently used to assess the risk level of a patient suffering from thrombosis or bleeding, are not sensitive enough. Thrombosis can arise from a range of disorders affecting vessel walls, blood flow and blood composition, thus a simple "coagulability" will often fall short. It is therefore necessary to be able to assess the overall interaction; a global integral assay to assess hemostatic risks.
Global assays are an experimental, in vitro model of hemostasis/thrombosis that aim to mimic all aspects of the system.
Our hope in that this collection of reviews will increase knowledge of global assays and lead to their further development.