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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

More on RIs in Multiple Sites

We’ve received follow-up insights on our 12-2-15 post, Reference Intervals in Multiple Sites: From Dr. Emmanuel Favaloro, Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research: I suspect that everyone will have a slightly different perspective on this question, as informed from personal experience. We run a network of 27 labs, all using Stago instrumentation, but either […]

Nothing New Since 1982

George’s colleague Kyle Fortier posted a provocative 12-1-15 comment on his timeline, “Professional vent: just spoke with a lab professional who said “nothing has changed in hemostasis since I took the course in 1982.” This person has worked in micro their entire career. I cringed. A lot.” With Kyle’s permission, I’d like us to think […]

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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.

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