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Quick Question: D-dimer Assay Platforms

Here are the results of our 2-16-2009 D-dimer assay question: “What method do you use to measure D-dimer for the purpose of ruling out deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism?” Answers… a. Immunoturbidimetric: 26 (87%) b. Rapid ELFA (the Mini-Vidas method): 2 (7%) c. Card latex agglutination: 1 (3%) d. ELISA (e. g. Dimertest Gold, […]

Delta Checks

Mr. Fritsma, Greetings! Thank you for having such a great website for hemostasis! I am looking at autoverification of our PTs, PTTs, fibrinogens and D-dimers. I am especially interested in using a delta flag for the PTs to prevent errors. I was thinking that the INR would be the easiest to flag with delta checks. […]

How to Collect from Preemies

From Mary B. Paoli at Palmetto Health: What is the best collection method for coagulation specimens from tiny babies? Our NICU nurses draw these sometimes with butterfly adapters and sometimes with the Gelco IV needles. They are often clotted or hemolyzed and the nurses are naturally upset with the need to re-draw specimens. We must […]

Multiple Proficiency Survey Results

Another post from Dana Haas in Houston: I’m almost afraid to post this question, but here goes…. For hematology analyzers, there is space to post results from 2 different analyzers (not sure about chemistry), but I’ve never seen it for coag testing, so the question is… Does anyone purchase extra PT kits to submit answers […]

Defining “Correction” in PTT Mixes

Jane Bossart originally posted this question on MEDLAB. I’m posting it here with her permission: Hello, I have a few questions about mixing studies. What do your labs use for normal plasma (PNP)? If you purchase it, have you had any problems with it? What are your criteria for correction for both PT and APTT? […]

PTT Results in Myeloma

Susan Buchholz sent this question Wednesday, January 21: What should you do with prolonged PTTs on patients with multiple myeloma? Thank you for your question, Susan. I’ve reviewed all my favorite references, and have reached no definitive global answers, so I will speculate and ask for contributions from our experts. In plasma cell (multiple) myeloma, […]

Quick Question: D-dimer Reporting Discrepancies

Here is a summary of our Quick Question about D-dimer reporting units: Part 1: Based on Dr. Olson’s guest blog posted last July, D-dimer test results suffer from a variety of confusing reporting methods. What units do you used to report your D-dimer results? a. D-dimer units: 8 (67%) b. Fibrinogen equivalent units: 4 (33%) […]

Four New Modules

We’ve just posted our four latest educational modules, Monitoring AntithromboticTherapy 1-4. These include reference to the new oral anticoagulants that are under development, Rivaroxiban, Apixiban, and Dabigatran. Our educational modules are up to date and free. They are also available for CE credit through all North American continuing education certification agencies such as ASCP and ASCLS through the Colorado Association […]

Helena PlateletWorks

Here is an update to the discussion initiated by Sue Hillyard on Friday, January 9 on the subject of monitoring aspirin and plavix therapy. I received an e-mail from “Bert” asking “What about using the PlateletWorks by Helena for monitoring Plavix therapy? I failed to include Helena’s PlateletWorks® as a means for aspirin monitoring, and in fact the manufacturer does […]

Factor VIII Inhibitor Assay

Some questions about factor VIII inhibitors from Kelly Townsend at TriCore: When performing Factor VIII inhibitor testing, at what activity level do you either treat the specimen to inactivate patient factor VIII or not perform the assay? If you do treat the sample, exactly what do you do (what temp and how long)? Does your […]

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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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