- The primary assay used to assess the hemocompatibility of biomaterials intended for cardiovascular applications is the Hemolysis assay.

- Hemocompatibility refers to the compatibility of a material with blood, meaning it should not cause adverse reactions such as clotting, hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells), or platelet activation when in contact with blood.
- The hemolysis assay specifically measures the degree to which a biomaterial causes rupture of red blood cells, releasing hemoglobin into the plasma.
- This test is crucial because excessive hemolysis can lead to serious complications such as anemia, jaundice, and kidney damage.

- While other assays, such as the Coagulation time test and Platelet aggregation test, also evaluate specific aspects related to blood compatibility like clotting and platelet activation, they do not directly measure the effect of the material on red blood cell integrity.
- The Clot retraction test is more focused on the contractile function of platelets in clot formation rather than overall hemocompatibility.

Therefore, the hemolysis assay is the standard test for preliminary screening of cardiovascular biomaterials for their direct effect on red blood cells, making it essential in evaluating hemocompatibility.

Reference: Biomaterials Science, Volume 2, Chapter 10 / Page 534