biostudies-literatureSachs LBundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (Federal Ministry of Education and Research)Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)86https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8782918biostudies-literatureUnknown5(1)Inherited platelet disorders affecting the human platelet cytoskeleton result in increased bleeding risk. However, deciphering their impact on cytoskeleton-dependent intrinsic biomechanics of platelets remains challenging and represents an unmet need from a diagnostic and prognostic perspective. It is currently unclear whether ex vivo anticoagulants used during collection of peripheral blood impact the mechanophenotype of cellular components of blood. Using unbiased, high-throughput functional mechanophenotyping of single human platelets by real-time deformability cytometry, we found that ex vivo anticoagulants are a critical pre-analytical variable that differentially influences platelet deformation, their size, and functional response to agonists by altering the cytoskeleton. We applied Communications biologyEx vivo anticoagulants affect human blood platelet biomechanics with implications for high-throughput functional mechanophenotyping.PMC878291803Z22CN11374031971-CRC/TR 240Sachs LPalankar ROtto OWesche JLenkeit LGreinacher ABender MfalseEx vivo anticoagulants affect human blood platelet biomechanics with implications for high-throughput functional mechanophenotyping.Inherited platelet disorders affecting the human platelet cytoskeleton result in increased bleeding risk. However, deciphering their impact on cytoskeleton-dependent intrinsic biomechanics of platelets remains challenging and represents an unmet need from a diagnostic and prognostic perspective. It is currently unclear whether ex vivo anticoagulants used during collection of peripheral blood impact the mechanophenotype of cellular components of blood. Using unbiased, high-throughput functional mechanophenotyping of single human platelets by real-time deformability cytometry, we found that ex vivo anticoagulants are a critical pre-analytical variable that differentially influences platelet deformation, their size, and functional response to agonists by altering the cytoskeleton. We applied 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Jan2026-07-14T15:01:45.885Z2025-04-06T04:01:59.433ZS-EPMC87829183506420710.1038/s42003-021-02982-6