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Quick Guide to Coagulation; 2nd Edition

In shameless self-promotion, I want to announce that our Quick Guide to Coagulation, 2nd Edition is now available from AACC Press and from the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science. The new edition is expanded from 62 to 108 pages and includes a section on platelet aggregometry and a series of speedy reference tables. The Quick Guide is still […]

Does Actin FS Introduce a FVIII or FIX Assay Bias?

Here is an interesting question about Actin FS sensitivity for coagulation factors VIII and IX from Vanessa Chan at SickKids Hospital in Toronto: I’m currently working on the validation of the Stago Sta-R Evolution. Throughout this process, I have run into a couple of problems with my FVIII and FIX assays. Using Siemens Actin FS, Stago Unical calibrator […]

Employment in Coagulation Specialty

I want to draw everyone’s attention to Curing and Caring by Matthew Patton in the June 1, 2009 issue of Advance for Medical Laboratory Professionals. Although Mr. Patton’s article appeared in the print issue, it is available online as a PDF, page 12 and 13. The article features Dr. Larry Smith, a contributor to Fritsma Factor, and accurately describes […]

Coagulation Factor Characteristics

Two coagulation factor questions from Madan Verma, MLT: I was cruising through your website and I have two questions: Do coagulation factors circulate in blood as activated proteins or they are in a non-active form? Is there a certain proportion of activated and non-active? Factor VII (activated or native form?) has the shortest half life […]

Sekusui Chemical Plans to Acquire ADI

Steve Duff of Precision BioLogic alerted me to this March 18, 2009 news releasefrom American Diagnostica, Inc and Sekusui Chemical Company, Ltd describing Sekusui plans to acquire 100% of ADI. This is a big change for a company with a long US in vitro diagnostics history.

VWF Cleavage Regulation by Shear Force and ADAMTS13

Steve Duff of Precision BioLogic forwarded a reference to a mechanical and enzymatic mechanism that controls the length of von Willebrand factor (VWF) multimers. According to Zhang X, Halvorsen K, Zhang CZ, Wong WP, Springer TA: Mechanoenzymatic cleavage of the ultralarge vascular protein von Willebrand factor. Science 2009;324:1330-4, shear force exerted on the VWF molecule “unrolls” the molecule […]

Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency and Platelets

An interesting question from Stephanie Morgan, MT (ASCP) Chief Technologist at the Children’s Cancer Clinic, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi. Her question was originally sent to Bernadette (Bunny) Rodak at Indiana University Medical Center. Bunny forwarded it to me to post here. Bunny, I have been asked to aggregate a two-year old with […]

Monitoring Clopidogrel

Karen Lusky, staff writer for CAP Today, provides an excellent summary of the potential need for monitoring clopidogrel (Plavix) antiplatelet therapy in “Getting personal about antiplatelet therapy” in the May 2009 issue. She discusses polymorphisms of the CYP2C19 metabolic pathway and their effect upon clopidogrel dosage and efficacy. She also discusses phenotypic assays for antiplatelet […]

Congreso Cientifico, Honduras, July 1-3

Margaret Fritsma, MA, MT (ASCP) SBB and I will participate in the Congreso Cientifico, at the Intercontinental Hotel Tegucigalpa, Honduras at the invitation of Milena Vanegas, MS MT (ASCP) on Wednesday, July 1 through Friday, July 3, 2009. We thank Ms. Vanegas for the invitation and look forward to presenting at the meeting. Here is […]

ISTH XXII Congress Boston July 11-16, 2009

The International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis XXII Congress is planned for July 11-16 at the convention center in Boston, MA. This biennial meeting is the biggest international hemostasis event. Geo

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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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