Fibrinogen Assay for Pleural Effusion?

From Pam Owens, Centennial Medical Center, Nashville, TN. Recently a pediatric group approached us asking if we would do a fibrinogen level on pleural fluids before and during administration of tissue plasminogen activator (TPA, Alteplase) for resolution of the effusion. I found the previous reference to this treatment in a post from August 2012, but no mention of […]

Comments (2)

Fibrinolysis

Dec 18 2013

george

Coag Specimens on Ice

From our frequent contributor, Kim Kinney at Indiana University Health Pathology Laboratory: Merry Christmas all! George, this may be an old topic, but I am getting some push back from our off-site coordinators. Coagulation samples sent on ice: I have always thought that the current literature stated that iced coag tubes could activate factor VII and potentially shorten […]

Specimen Management

Vitamin “Agonist?”

A quick note from Madan Verma: “Is there any thing such as a “vitamin agonist” and does it some how mimic factor VII deficiency? All these years I’ve read about vitamin Kantagonists (VKA) but not agonists. I came across this word while reviewing a factor VII assay done by a reference lab.” Hello, Madan Verma, and thank […]

Comments (0)

Anticoagulant Therapy

Dec 12 2013

george

CoaguChek Vs. Plasma-based INR

From Joyce Low, St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney NSW: For those who use the Roche CoaguChek XS INR meters… At what INR would they repeat the point of care (POC) prothrombin time and international normalized ratio (PT/INR)? At what INR would they do a central laboratory (plasma-based) INR to confirm the POC INR? Regarding the correlation between CoaguChek INR […]

Comments (3)

Anticoagulant Therapy

Dec 10 2013

george

DOAC Efficacy and Safety Meta-analysis

The Heart.org is now part of Medscape. Here’s a December 5, 2013 announcement:‘New’ Oral Anticoagulant Stroke-Protection Benefits in AF Cut Across Subgroups in Meta-Analysis. This is a summary of Ruff CT, Giugliano RP, Braunwald E. Comparison of the efficacy and safety of new oral anticoagulants with warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation: a meta-analysis of randomised […]

Comments (0)

Anticoagulant Therapy

Dec 3 2013

george

November NASCOLA Newsletter

With thanks for notification from Elaine Benoit, your North American Specialized Coagulation Laboratory Association (NASCOLA) November Newsletter is attached, Among many noteworthy articles, the NASCOLA newsletter features a description of Fritsma Factor. Thanks to NASCOLA for featuring us and to Precision BioLogic Inc for hosting The Fritsma Factor since 2007! November NASCOLA Newsletter

Events

TEG or ROTEM

From Meg Hardin. George, The surgical services in our hospital are requesting that we look into purchasing the Thromboelastograph (TEG) or Rotational Thromboelastometry System (ROTEM) in order to decrease blood utilization. TEG representatives tell surgical services that they can receive results with in 2 minutes of the blood being placed on the analyzer. I know nothing (except what I read) […]

Comments (7)

Anticoagulant Therapy

Nov 25 2013

george

Laboratory Testing and Standardization

With a thanks for the heads-up to Elaine Benoit, Precision BioLogic Inc, here is a fascinating retrospective on Hemophilia testing, Barrowcliffe TW, Laboratory testing and standardisation. Haemophilia 2013;19:799–804, in the November, 2013 edition of the Journal, Haemophilia, publication of the World Federation of Haemophilia. Click here for the article: Barrowcliffe: Laboratory Testing and Standardisation

Events

Delta Checks

From Julia Nailling: What delta checks do laboratories commonly use for autoverification of prothrombin time with international normalized ratio (PT/INR), partial thromboplastin time (PTT), fibrinogen, and D-dimer? Hi, Julia, thank you for your question. I’ll let our participants respond to this, as our own laboratory doesn’t use autoverification or delta checks, although we do carefully inspect […]

Validation

Reference Range Change Limit

Maria Grana writes, Hello George, what would constitute a “significant change” when performing the yearly reference range study for coagulation? Thanks. Hello, Maria, and thank you for your question. The laboratory director and staff often establish an acceptable reference range (reference interval, normal range) change limit, beyond which it is necessary to publish a new interval. […]

Comments (0)

Validation

All Posts

Fibrinogen Assay for Pleural Effusion?

Coag Specimens on Ice

Vitamin “Agonist?”

CoaguChek Vs. Plasma-based INR

DOAC Efficacy and Safety Meta-analysis

November NASCOLA Newsletter

TEG or ROTEM

Laboratory Testing and Standardization

Delta Checks

Reference Range Change Limit

George Fritsma MS MLS

Cheat Sheets from George

Questions or Comments?

Quick Question