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More About the Blue-closure Tube Shortage

Thanks to Dennis Ernst, MT(ASCP), NCPT(NCCT), Director of the Center for Phlebotomy Education, for contacting BD and Greiner about the current sodium citrate tube shortage. Please refer to our May 17 post describing this issue and see comments from Dennis [which includes BD’s recommendations], and from Bob Gosselin, who surveyed several colleagues and learned of […]

Specimen Management

AACC Meeting in Atlanta Sep 26–30

Thanks to Sharon Verg Johnson, MBA, DLM(ASCP), Director, Hemostasis Regulatory Affairs, Sysmex America, Inc. for this heads-up: AACC is pleased to announce that the association has moved the location of its 2021 annual meeting from Anaheim, California to Atlanta, Georgia. The meeting dates have also been changed to one week later: September 26-30, 2021. California […]

June, 2021 Quick Question: Dabigatran Reversal Agent

Our June Quick Question opens additional discussion of the DOAC reversal agents as it asks, “What is the trademark name of the dabigatran reversal agent? Please click your answer and provide your experience with reversal agents in the comments section below.

Anticoagulant Therapy

May, 2021 Quick Question: Flaujeac Factor Response

Our May, 2021 Quick Question was a historical factor name challenge, “What is the more common name for Flaujeac factor?” The question drew 24 responses. We answered: Hageman factor: 21% [5] Fletcher factor: 4% [1] Fitzgerald factor: 58% [14]X Stuart factor: 13% [3] Fibrinogen: 4% [1] High molecular weight kininogen [HMWK] was given the name […]

Question About DOAC Side Effects

To our FF participants, a colleague asked whether Eliquis was associated with confusion. Have you observed any side effects for any of the DOACs other than the well-described risk of gastrointestinal or intracranial hemorrhage? Thank you for your response.

Anticoagulant Therapy

Mixing Study Limits

From a participant: Can you please help me to understand how to make a cut off value for a correction study so that above this value is corrected and below is not? Please provide an example. Thank you. Hello, and thank you for your question. Please click this link to our educational module, “Improving Acute […]

Bleeding Disorders

Extended Half-life FVIII & FIX and the PTT

From Carolyn McCarville: Hi George, My small laboratory is trying to figure out the best management of coag samples from patients receiving extended half life factor replacement products. We understand that many of the one stage clotting factor assays are inaccurate for the wealth of these products. One thing that we cannot get a straight […]

Bleeding Disorders

Blue-closure Tube Shortage

Thanks to Dave McGlasson for a link to Facebook page, Medical Laboratory Science Hidden Heroes where on May 14, Amy Irwin asked, “So from what I hear the Na citrate blue top tube shortage is nationwide. What is your plan for anyone experiencing this?” Checking an April 16 NPR News report, there is a nationwide […]

Specimen Management

bigEndothelin-1

Here is a significant study of a plasma component associated with thrombosis in immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura published by a colleague and friend, Dr. X Long Zheng, an iTTP expert, and his associate, Dr. Nancy Lu: Lu R, Zheng XL. Plasma levels of bigEndothelin-1 are associated with renal insufficiency and in-hospital mortality of immune thrombotic […]

May, 2021 Quick Question: Flaujeac Factor

This month’s Quick Question is for historical fun, looking back at some of the original coagulation factor names that first used the names of the first families with the factor’s deficiency. Recall the name Flaujeac factor and identify what we call it today.

Coagulation Factors

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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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