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Spinal Cord Stroke

On February 26, 2023, a Fritsma Factor participant asked about a relative’s diagnosis of spinal cord stroke. Spinal cord stroke is rare, 0.3–1% of all strokes. I’ve attached a review article, Romi F, Naess H. Spinal cord infarction in clinical neurology: a review of characteristics and long-term prognosis in comparison to cerebral infarction. Eur Neurol. […]

Arterial Thrombosis

February, 2023 Cheat Sheet

Hello, I [Geo] have attached our February 2023 Cheat Sheet here, please take a peek, or await your personal email copy coming soon.

January, 2023 Quick Question: Tranexamic Acid

Our January 2023 Quick Question asks, What is the target of the anti-hemorrhagic agent tranexamic acid? For this question, the only correct answer is fibrinolysis. Here are the responses from our 57 participants… Factor V: 5 [9%] Factor XIII: 5 [9%] Fibrinolysis: 40 [70%] Prothrombin 4 [7%] Activated protein C 3 [5%] This QQ is […]

Quick Question Archive

VWF Activity Assay

Preliminary to our February 2023 Quick Question, here is a detailed January 2023 CAP Today article entitled “Ins and Outs of von Willebrand Factor Activity Assays.” In addition to the time-honored, but imprecise optical aggregometry-based von Willebrand Ristocetin Cofactor [VWF:RCo] assay, we now have these activity assays that, except for VWF:RCo, function without reagent-platelets… VWF:RCo: […]

Bleeding Disorders

Prehospital Transfusion

Here is a provocative article from the December 2022 issue of CAP Today that addresses the benefits and barriers to offering pre-hospital transfusions in trauma situations: Prehospital Transfusions, CAP Today, December 2022.

Bleeding Disorders

Precision BioLogic Chromogenic FIX Assay Cleared by the FDA

Congratulations to our sponsor, Precision BioLogic Inc., as their CRYOcheck chromogenic factor IX assay was cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration on January 5, 2023. Click here for PBI’s news release. and click “Factor IX Testing and Introduction to CRYOcheck Chromogenic Factor IX” to register for our February 1 webinar featuring special guest […]

Coagulation Factors

January 2023 Cheat Sheet

Welcome, and click here for our January 2023 Cheat Sheet and watch for your copy in your inbox next week.

January 2023 Quick Question: Tranexamic Acid

On October 25, 2022, I [Geo] had total knee replacement surgery. Just before becoming unconscious, I asked the anesthesiologist what was in the IV. I was surprised to learn one of my therapeutics was tranexamic acid [TXA], whose purpose was to control bleeding. TXA has been around for a long time, but I’m curious about […]

Quick Question Archive

December 2022 Quick Question: Thrombosis Risk Factor Profile Response

Welcome to 2023. Our December 2022 Quick Question, which drew 45 responses, asks, “What parameter is NOT part of your thrombosis risk factor profile? The answers were: Antithrombin [1, 3%] Protein C [3, 7% ] Protein S [1, 2%] Prothrombin 20210 mutation [1, 3%] Lipoprotein [a] [38, 85%] As anticipated, most of us have dropped, […]

Quick Question Archive

Apixaban and Alzheimer Disease

Michele M. Reed participated in my [Geo] Michigan State University’s Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics graduate course, BLD 835 Hemostasis and Thrombosis. Her attached manuscript provides basic information about apixaban’s indications and efficacy and makes an intriguing reference to apixaban as a potential means for dementia management. Click here for Michele’s manuscript, “Can Apixaban Help Reduce the […]

Anticoagulant Therapy

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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.

Cheat Sheets from George

Quick Question