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Hemostasis Quality Control Modules

Fritsma Factor is pleased to introduce our most recent audio PowerPoint modules, Hemostasis Quality Control Part 1 and Hemostasis Quality Control Part 2. These modules were produced by friend, colleague, and co-author Mayukh Sarkar, Ph.D MLS [ASCP] for the Rutgers University 2023 graduate course, Advanced Hemostasis CLS5124. Dr. Sarkar has a wealth of QC experience […]

Platelet Satellitism

Here’s a March 11, 2024 message from Erika Knuckles, Hematology Supervisor, Phelps Health. “Good Morning George, I was consulting ‘Mr. Google’ to see if I could find any information on what would cause patients to form platelet clumps in both EDTA and sodium citrate. We excluded the collection process. diseases, and medication. I thought you […]

Specimen Management

Heparin and Mixing Studies

From colleague Brenda Goforth, Senior CLS Hematology, Coagulation, and Urinalysis | Clinical Laboratory, Antelope Valley Medical Center Hi George, When using Hepzyme on patients who are on heparin and a mixing study is ordered, what is the standard for when neutralization is complete? If the PTT is normal after one neutralization, then proceed to 37ºC incubation, but what […]

Still More on Chronically Elevated D-dimer

We’ve received an additional comment on our February 3, 2024 entry on the topic of chronically elevated D-dimer.

More on CaCl2 Validation

We recommend you return to our February 4, 2024 entry that discusses CaCl2 validation. We’ve received additional comments including a comprehensive response from several expert CAP staff members.

March 2024 Cheat Sheet

Click here for our March 2024 Cheat Sheet or watch for yours in your inbox next week.

March 2024 Quick Question: Factor Deficiency

Our March 2024 Quick Question, a factor deficiency quiz asks “What factor deficiency causes bleeding but doesn’t prolong the PT or PTT?” Please select the one correct answer and make additional comments below.

Bleeding Disorders

February 2024 QQ Summary: Rosenthal Syndrome

Forty-two participants answered our February 2024 Quick Question, “What factor deficiency is named Rosenthal syndrome?” Here are the answers: FV: 3 [7%] FVII: 2 [5%] FX: 2 [5%] FXI: 28 [67%] FXII: 5 [11%] FXIII: 2 [5%] Most of us correctly chose factor XI deficiency, Rosenthal Syndrome. FXI deficiency is an autosomal recessive hemophilia with […]

Bleeding Disorders

History of TTP

Thanks to Dr. X. Long Zheng, Professor and Chair of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas, for his LinkedIn reference to this 2017 open access thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura history: Saha M, McDaniel JK, Zheng XL. Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: pathogenesis, diagnosis and potential novel therapeutics. J Thromb Haemost. 2017 Oct;15(10):1889-1900. doi: 10.1111/jth.13764.

Arterial Thrombosis

Lab Assays to Detect Occult Cancer in VTE

Here is a provocative article whose investigators looked for lab assays to detect cancer in patients with unprovoked venous thromboembolism: Sánchez-López V, Marín-Romero S, Ferrer-Galván M, et all. Occult cancer in patients with unprovoked venous thromboembolism: A nested case-control study. Am J Clin Pathol. 2024:aqad178. doi: 10.1093/ajcp/aqad178. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38340336.

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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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