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December 2024 Cheat Sheet

Click here for your December 2023 Fritsma Factor cheat sheet. The Cheat Sheet will also appear in your mailbox soon. Thank you for participating in Fritsma Factor, and happy December holidays.

December 2023 Quick Question: VWF Subtype 2B

Our December 2023 Quick Question asks, “How do you test for VWD subtype 2B?” This is in follow-up to our February 2023 question, “What VWF activity assay do you use?” VWD subtype 2B is a qualitative VWF deficiency caused by a gain-of-function mutation that increases VWF-platelet-binding avidity. Please answer the quiz and post your comments […]

Bleeding Disorders

November 2023 Quick Question: Platelet Hyperaggregability Summary

Our modest 15-player response to the November 2023 Quick Question poll implies a scant interest in platelet hyperaggregability, the outcome of an October 4 post by Mayukh Sarkar, PhD. “Sticky Platelet Syndrome.” Question: Do you test for platelet hyperaggregation? No, there’s no such thing: 6 [40%] Yes, we call it “sticky platelets:” 6 [40%] We […]

Arterial Thrombosis

Recombinant ADAMTS13 Therapeutic

On November 9, 2023, Takeda’s recombinant ADAMTS13 received FDA approval for the care of congenital thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura [cTTP]. Click here for their news release. Click here for the US Thrombotic Microangiopathy Alliance for more cTTP information and information on the family of TMAs.

Bleeding Disorders

In Vitro DOAC Removal Agents

Wenxiong He [“Wen”], Toronto, Canada, is a participant in the Rutgers University graduate course CLSC 5124, Advanced Hemostasis. Wen is in the hematology lab at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto which includes the special coagulation lab. Wen offered this information about the use of a DOAC removal agent: “Our lab uses a DOAC removal product […]

Anticoagulant Therapy

ISTH Releases Management of Chemotherapy-induced Thrombocytopenia

The ISTH Subcommittee on Hemostasis & Malignancy just released the following guidelines. Soff G, Leader A, Al-Samkari H, et al.. Management of chemotherapy induced thrombocytopenia: Guidance from the ISTH Subcommittee on Hemostasis & Malignancy. J Thromb Haemost. 2023;10:S1538-7836(23)00734-1. doi: 10.1016/j.jtha.2023.09.031. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37827380.

Platelet Function Testing

November 2023 Cheat Sheet

Click here for your November 2023 Fritsma Factor Cheat Sheet, which will also be delivered to your mailbox in a few days.

November 2023 QQ: Platelet Hyperaggregability

Our November Quick Question is another poll, this time in response to our provocative October 4, 2023 discussion, initiated by Dr. Mayukh Sarkar, entitled “Sticky Platelet Syndrome.” The question asks, “Do you test for platelet hyperaggregation?” As always, please answer the poll and then post your written opinion in the “Comments” section below.

Quick Question Archive

October 2023 QQ Summary

Our October Quick Question poll asked, “Should coag factors be relabeled using Arabic numerals?” The poll arose from a discussion initiated by Dave McGlasson and attracted 42 responses: No, keep Roman numerals: 18 [42%] Yes, reduce confusion: 18 [42%] Use both Roman and Arabic numerals: 6 [16%] It’s no surprise, based on our earlier discussion, […]

Quick Question Archive

CAP Today Announces VEA Guide

The October 2023 issue of CAP Today announced the publication of Volod, O, Whole Blood Viscoelastic Assays in Clinical Diagnosis: An Illustrated Case-Based Guide. A brief interview with editor Oksona Volod, MD, describes the guide and lists its contributors. The guide is a comprehensive review of whole blood viscoelastometry [VET] from its start with the […]

Global Hemostasis Assays

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George Fritsma is a medical laboratory scientist, educator, and author. George holds faculty appointments with Rutgers University and Michigan State University, and is a member of the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis, American Association of Clinical Chemists, and American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science.

Cheat Sheets from George

Quick Question