All Posts

Contact Factor Assays

Hello, I am fairly new to the special coagulation field and am interested in finding out how most labs set up contact factor assays. What do you use for calibrators and controls for high molecular weight kininogen (HMWK) and prekallikrein (PK). Looking forward to your insight and I really enjoy the Fritsma Factor! Mary Block, Cincinnati […]

Coags Uncomplicated: iPhone App

Ali Sadeghi-Khomami, PhD, senior research scientist at Precision BioLogic Inc sent this interesting link to a new algorithm-driven Novo Nordisk app for iPhones, Coags Uncomplicated. Geo.

Dabigatran in the ER

Dave McGlasson sent me this HeartWire link describing the problems of Dabigatran in trauma situations. This looks like a new risk associated with the oral anticoagulant.

Anticoagulant Therapy

Can’t Separate Newborn Plasma

Dear George, One day old baby citrate sample, unable to separate plasma after centrifugation. Repeated with fresh sample, same problem. What is the cause? With regards, Vilas Hiremath, United Labs. Hello, Vilas, it is always good to hear from you. Does this mean no plasma layer appears after centrifugation? If so, perhaps polycythemia has made the […]

Specimen Management

Acceptable Interval for VWF:RCo

George, Our lab participates in both CAP CGE and NASCOLA ECAT proficiency challenges. One of those assays, von Willebrand factor ristocetin cofactor (VWF:RCo) activity by the agglutination method, is difficult to judge in terms of performance. When looking at results, what is acceptable for criteria? I usually look for ±2 SD for other tests. Sometimes […]

Bleeding Disorders

New Phase 3 Data on Apixaban

Stephen Duff, Co-CEO of Precision BioLogic Inc passed along this announcement. At the American Heart Association meeting, the results of a phase 3 trial indicated that apixaban did not meet the primary efficacy outcome of superiority to enoxaparin (Lovenox) for the endpoint of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and VTE-related death at day 30 in people with acute medical illness. The […]

Anticoagulant Therapy

More on AB Plasma to Correct Bleeding

Jose DeJesus‘ November 9 question about providing plasma to an AB patientbecame a dinner-table discussion at my house. You may think, “What a sad, dull existence–a two-MLS family,” however, we’ve turned up some interesting information by communicating with acquaintances at three institutions. First, if you can give incompatible platelet concentrate, why not incompatible plasma? There are […]

Bleeding Disorders

Bridging Anticoagulation

We are getting a lot of fresh anticoagulation and thrombosis information from the ongoing American Heart Association meeting. Dr Samuel Z Goldhaber (Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA) indicates there is a lack of evidence for “bridging” anticoagulation. He conclludes, “there are no randomized clinical trials to say that bridging is the way to go.”

Anticoagulant Therapy

New Results on Rivaroxaban

Research data presented Sunday, November 13, 2011 at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions indicated that adding low doses of Johnson & Johnson and Bayer’s Xarelto (rivaroxaban) to standard antiplatelet therapy significantly prevented the occurrence of secondary cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), compared with standard therapy alone. The companies plan to seek US […]

Anticoagulant Therapy

Any Problems with Ristocetin?

From Kerri Klemm: Has anyone had problems recently with ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation? We have used this reagent for years and just recently had problems. We run the ristocetin at 1.5 mg, which should react and does and 0.75 mg, which shouldn’t react but does. This is with our normal controls who we have used before. Until […]

Platelet Function Testing

Load more

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

Quick Question