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Clinical Lab Science Recruitment

This has little to do with hemostasis, but I’m attending the Clinical Laboratory Educators’ Conference in Savannah, GA this week, and one topic that continues to come up is recruitment. The clinical laboratory science field faces increased personnel demands and a 32% vacancy rate, according to Paul Epner, director of Dealthcare Improvement Initiatives, Abbott Diagnostics. […]

Lipoprotein (a) and Cardiovascular Risk

Along with elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), lipoprotein (a) [LP (a)] is an independent atherosclerosis risk factor in middle-aged men. I’m currently preparing a series of thrombophilia modules for the web site, prompting me to “bone up” on LP (a), which has some peculiar characteristics. LP (a) is a lipoprotein similar to LDL-C but containing […]

Liver Endothelial Cell Transplants

Bernadette (Bunny) Rodak forwarded a message originally sent to her by Karol Sublett at Clarian in Indianapolis describing an article by Follenzi A, Benten D, Novikoff P, et al, Transplanted endothelial cells repopulate the liver endothelium and correct the phenotype of hemophilia A mice. J Clin Invest 2008, e-pub. The article… describes how factor VIII […]

Heparin and Warfarin Allergy

As you’ve read in the news, Baxter Healthcare Corporation, Deerfield, IL recalled nine lots of unfractionated heparin January 17 after the US CDC documented 65 probable cases of acute anaphylaxis in hemodialysis patients using the heparin, including one death. It isn’t clear… …exactly what about the heparin-hemodialysis combination caused the allergic response,s but it does […]

Platelets, Atherosclerosis, and Cardiovascular Disease

Last summer I made a presentation relating platelets with atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease at the annual meeting of the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science. The presentation has now been re-formatted and is available as a three-part module entitled Platelets and Cardiovascular Disease. Once you participate, take advantage of the CACMLE quiz for your continuing […]

Chromogenic Factor X Assay

Larry Smith, PhD, of Memorial Sloan-Kettering asks if anyone has an adaptation for running the chromogenic factor X assay on the ACL-TOP.

Clot Retraction

I thought the clot retraction test had disappeared when the earth cooled, but I heard from Maggie Schneider MT (ASCP) and Karri Henderson MT (ASCP) at William Beaumont Hospital in Oakland, MI, who occasionally use it. If an institution as “august” as Beaumont is using the clot retraction test, there must be more folks in […]

Screening for Bleeding Risk

Nancy Kovacs posted this message on the Medlab-L list and has given me permission to post it here. Hello! I am a member of the MedLab Listserve and have often seen your postings about coagulation issues. Perhaps you can help us with our PFA-100 questions. We have a pain management clinic and wanted to cease […]

Greiner Tubes

Sue Osier from Northside Hospital in Atlanta asks whether anyone is using Greiner specimen collection tubes and whether they seem to be causing any trouble on Stago equipment, specifically, the STA-R and Sapphire. Good to hear from you, Sue, and I appreciate your contributions to our site. If you are having any trouble with Greiner […]

ACT Validation

Here is a question from Mary Rozmanc in Sunnybrook: Hi, George, I will be evaluating two vendor ACT devices. Is there any information you have or that you can point me to to help me set up a proper evaluation? The reference instrument will be the Medtronic ACT II. I would like to know what […]

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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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