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How to Improve Lab Testing

From Heather DeVries: In the scope of the whole world, how do labs search for new ways to improve their laboratory testing? Would it just be typing in the search bar, or are there ways to find the latest information randomly while looking for other things? George replies, Heather, my surface-level response is to suggest […]

Specimen Management

Isolated VWF Activity or Antigen Orders

ASCLS has developed a recommendation for publication on the Effective Test Utilization website that ASCLS populates in collaboration with ASCP and ASM: Don’t order isolated von Willebrand factor antigen (VWF:Ag) or von Willebrand factor activity (VWF:Act) assays alone. When von Willebrand disease is indicated, order a von Willebrand disease profile consisting of VWF:Ag, VWF:Act, and […]

Hemophilia Therapeutics Discontinued

Thank you to Elaine Benoit, Precision BioLogic Inc., for this heads-up. Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A. Inc. announced it has discontinued the production of therapeutics HEMOFIL M® and RECOMBINATE®. HEMOFIL M, developed by Baxter Hyland, is a human plasma-derived factor concentrate approved by the US FDA in 1966 for on-demand hemophilia A therapy. RECOMBINATE, also developed by […]

Bleeding Disorders

ASCLS Oregon & Washington Spring Seminar

Click here to access the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science ASCLS-OR, ASCLS-WA Virtual Spring Seminar, April 3–4, 2025. On Friday, April 4, 8–9 PDT, George presents “Have We Cured Hemophilia?” To download your copy of the presentation handout, click Hemophilia. We look forward to your live attendance for this great two-day program.

Bleeding Disorders

Mixing Studies; Rosner Index

From Dr. Aliaa Mohamed Amer, Senior Consultant Hematopathologist, Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar: What is the value of calculating the Rosner index on the incubated plasma 1:1 mix (patient and control)? Does the cut-off used for the direct mix apply to the incubated mix? My understanding is that the Rosner index is primarily useful for the detection of […]

More on CAP Specimen Requirements

In follow-up to my February 25, 2025 post, New CAP Survey Coag POC Requirements, I asked Dr. Andrew Goodwin, “Does CAP address courier specimen management? I see specimens collected at regional clinics that stand in a door-mounted specimen box for extended periods. I also wonder whether couriers have equipment maintaining coag specimen temperatures between 18 […]

March 2025 Cheat Sheet

Click here for your March 2025 Cheat Sheet or await your copy to arrive by email on or after March 3. If you would like to join the Cheat Sheet mailing list, enter your name and email address in the right-hand column.

March 2025 Quick Question: LAC Testing

The March 2025 QQ is now available to answer, it is a poll to learn how we perform lupus anticoagulant testing. If you have an alternative, please answer in the Comments section below.

February 2025 Quick Question: FXIII Deficiency

Our February 2025 QQ was a quiz that asked, “What factor deficiency is associated with poor wound healing?” The question attracted 60 participants who answered… FII: 4 (7%) FV: 5 (8%) FVIII: 9 (15%) FIX: 3 (4%) FXIII: 39 (65%) The large majority is correct. Here is the abstract from Luyendyk JP, Flick MJ, Wolberg AS. […]

Bleeding Disorders

New CAP Survey Coag POC Requirements

Click POC CAP Coag Requirements 1-25 to read about the CAP Survey updates to point-of-care specimen management featuring Andrew Goodwin, MD, medical director of the thrombosis and hemostasis laboratory, and Marian Rollins-Raval, MD, PhD; chief of the Division of Hematopathology and Genomic Medicine both at the University of Vermont Medical Center.

Specimen Management

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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.

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