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May 2022 QQ: Thrombosis Risk Profile

Our May 2022 Quick Question asks, “What assay should be deleted from the thrombosis risk factor profile?” Thrombosis risk testing has been available to us since von Kaulla first described “antithrombin 3” deficiency in 1972 using the “serum antithrombin” test. It gained momentum when Dahlbach described activated protein C resistance in 1994, and thrombosis risk […]

Quick Question Archive

April 2022 QQ: Measuring Heparin Summary

Hello, our April 2022 Quick Question asks, “How do you measure unfractionated heparin [UFH]?” Our 37 respondents answered… Chromogenic anti-Xa using a hybrid curve: 38% [14] Chromogenic anti-Xa using the UFH curve: 14% [5] Anti-Xa and PTT: 22% [8] PTT: 26% [9] The majority of respondents are using the chromogenic anti-Xa heparin assay, and most […]

Anticoagulant Therapy

Clumsy Clinical Communication: ASCLS-DC, DEL, MAR, VA

George provides a virtual presentation, “Clumsy Clinical Communication, Let’s Blame the Lab” on Saturday, April 23, 2–3 EDT, sponsored by the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science Capital-area associations. Click here to register and link; ASCLS-DE, ASCLS-MD, ASCLS-VA, and ASCLS-CAS(DC). Here are the handouts for George’s presentation in one-per-page form for those who prefer to […]

Laboratory Professionals Week

We belatedly acknowledge the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science/Societe Canadienne de Science de Laboratoire Medical National Medical Laboratory Week, which just ended, 10–16 April, and announce the upcoming Medical Laboratory Professionals Week, April 24–30.

ASCLS-IN 4-9-22 Presentation Handouts

On Saturday, April 9, 2022, 9:15 AM CT, George presents “Clumsy Clinical Communication, Let’s Blame the Lab” for the ASCLS ASCLS-IN / ASCLS-KY 2022 Collaborative Laboratory Conference in Vincennes, Indiana. We’ve attached the presentation handouts in one-per-page form for those who wish to follow on their tablet and six-per-page for those who prefer to print. […]

PBI: Business of the Year

Congratulations to our sponsor, Precision BioLogic Inc. for earning the Halifax Chamber of Commerce 2022 Business of the Year Award. Richly deserved!

April 2022 QQ: Measuring Heparin

Our April 2022 Quick Question reprises our May 16, 2012 post, “Who Uses the Hybrid Curve?” but adds a twist based on May JE, Siniard RD, Taylor LJ, Marques MB, Gangaraju R. From activated partial thromboplastin time to anti-factor Xa and back again; the evolution of monitoring unfractionated heparin. Am J Clin Pathol 2022;157:321–7 HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1093/AJCP/AQAB135. […]

Anticoagulant Therapy

March 2022 Quick Question Summary

The stem of our March 2022 Quick Question was, “How do you measure the anti-Xa DOACs rivaroxaban or apixaban?” The question drew 33 responses and here are the answer selections: We don’t measure the anti-Xa DOACs: 24% [8] Chromogenic anti-Xa using DOAC-specific calibrators and controls: 64% [21] Chromogenic anti-Xa using the unfractionated heparin curve: 3% […]

Anticoagulant Therapy

March 2022 Cheat Sheet

Our March 2022 Cheat Sheet is linked. If you’d like to receive the Cheat Sheet in your mailbox, please send your email address to [email protected] and we will add you to our distribution list.

March 2022 Quick Question: Measuring Anti-Xa DOACs

Please review and answer our March 2022 Quick Question, submitted by colleague and coagulation expert Dave McGlasson. Although the US FDA has never approved the chromogenic anti-Xa assay for the direct oral anticoagulants rivaroxaban and apixaban, calibrators and controls are available from several distributors. Many facilities are called upon to assay for plasma concentration in […]

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