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APCR Controls

From Sheila Minor: We are currently using the Chromogenix Coatest APC Resistance VS kit for APCR testing. Chromogenix provides 1 set of level 1 and level 2 controls in each kit. The instructions state that the controls may be refrozen one time at –20 C or colder in their original vials. That would be fine if we used […]

Platelet Count on Spun Blue-top

From Tiffany Jones, Orlando Health: I was wondering if you could clarify for me why we can’t use a blue citrate tube for a platelet count after it has been spun once. Are there any studies to back up this reason? My facility seems to get a fair amount of patients displaying EDTA-induced platelet clumping […]

Specimen Management

Kcentra Reversal of DOAC Overdose

From Gabor Varadi, MD, Albert Einstein Cancer Center, Philadelphia. I would like to ask you about Kcentra dosing for non-coumadin related indications. This would be for treating life threatening bleeding or urgent reversal prior to surgery for patients receiving targeted anticoagulants. This would only apply to the direct oral Xa antagonists, not dabigatran. Do you think […]

Anticoagulant Therapy

Genes Associated with Bleeding Caused by Thrombocytopenia

Set in by Prof. Dan Southern Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have found genes associated with an autoimmune bleeding disorder called chronic immune thrombocytopenia, or ITP. Dr. Jenny Despotovic, assistant professor of pediatrics at Baylor and Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers, presented the research Dec. 5 at the American Society of Hematology 57th […]

Bleeding Disorders

NASTH Research Fellowship

The North American Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis announces an 8–10 week research fellowship. Please click here to see their announcement.

Reference Intervals: December QQ

We’ve just posted a new Quick Question, and have already received this response from Heather DeVries, Indiana University Health. I just logged in and saw the new Quick Question. I am excited to be the first to respond! Of course my answer is not simple. As a system, we use close to 300 normals to […]

Quick Question Archive

World Thrombosis Day, 10-13-15 Impact Statement

Fritsma Factor and Precision BioLogic Inc, members of the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis received this impact statement from Barbara Krolak of the World Thrombosis Day team, Dear WTD Partner Organization, As the year comes to an end, it’s important that we recognize the success and impact of the 2015 World Thrombosis Day (WTD) […]

What Result Triggers a PTT Mix? QQ Summary

Here is the summary of our October-November, 2015 Quick Question, “What PTT value initiates a PTT mixing study in your laboratory?” The question drew 157 responses. Any PTT result longer than the upper limit of the reference interval: 25% PTT result longer than the upper limit of the reference interval pending physician consult: 18% PTT […]

What Result Triggers a PTT Mix?

From Heather DeVries, Indiana University Health, “I answered the current Quick Question saying that we use another decision limit for doing a PTT mixing study. We require that the PTT be >3.0 seconds prolonged beyond the upper limit of our reference range, which is is 38.0 seconds. Thank you, Heather, there seems to be great […]

When to Start with Protein C and S Antigen Assay

Kristi Williams, a participant in George’s online Michigan State University (go Sparties!) graduate Hemostasis course, iasked this excellent question: I suspect practitioners in our area don’t necessarily always know or understand when the protein C and S activity vs. antigen tests should be ordered. It’s clear that protein C and S activity level assays are […]

Anticoagulant Therapy

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George Fritsma is a medical laboratory scientist, educator, and author. George is a member of the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis, the International Society for Laboratory Hematology, and the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science.

Cheat Sheets from George

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