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WFH June 1419

The World Federation of Hemophlia Virtual Summit begins June 14 and extends to June 19. Registration is now open.

ISTH Virtual Congress Registration

Registration for the ISTH 2020 Virtual Congress, July 12–14, is now open. Click or tap here for the registration page.

Choosing Wisely: Factor V Leiden Mutation

Tomorrow, June 10, 2020, the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation posts the following recommendation on their Choosing Wisely web site. This recommendation was submitted by the Choosing Wisely Committee of the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science in collaboration with the American Society for Clinical Pathology. Please provide us with your opinion about this […]

More on the DOAC Dipstick

Please refer to our May 6, 2020 entry, “Detecting DOACs in Urine,” regarding the DOAC Dipstick®. Dr. Favaloro has given permission to post his editorial here. Please click or tap Favaloro E, Lippi G. The pointy end of point of care testing for direct oral anticoagulants. Thromb Haemost 2020: 120: 11–13. This product shows great […]

Anticoagulant Therapy

THSNA Now a Virtual Meeting

The following announcement appears on the THSNA home page. UPDATE: In consideration of the health impacts of COVID-19 and the anticipated continued social distancing guidelines, THSNA has determined that it WILL NOT be possible to hold an in-person meeting in August. Instead THSNA 2020 will be converted to a virtual meeting in mid-end of October. […]

June, 2020 QQ: Protein S Deficiency

Our June, 2020 Quick Question asks what assay we use to screen for protein S deficiency. Our purpose is to support the development of a Choosing Wisely recommendation that addresses our use of thrombosis risk factor test profiles, which customarily include a protein S assay. Thanks in advance, and please feel free to comment on […]

Quick Question Archive

May 2020 Quick Question: D-dimer Results

Our May, 2020 Quick Question, which attracted 70 responses, was, “What assay does your lab use to monitor DIC?” The answers were somewhat predictable, only with a twist. They were: a. FDP: 1% [1] b. D-dimer: 69% [48] c. FDP & D-dimer: 30% [21] d. Other, please comment: 0 These findings are interesting because most […]

More on Covid and LAC

Thanks to Dr. Ali Sadeghi-Khomami, Precision BioLogic Inc., for sending a current editorial in press, Aubignat M, Godefroy O. COVID-19 and ischemic stroke: Should we systematically look for lupus anticoagulant and antiphospholipid antibodies? Revue neurologique 2020, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurol.2020.05.001. Please refer to our May 6 entry on antiphospholipid syndrome and the comment from Dr. Ning Tang. The […]

Anticoagulant Therapy

Covid and Convalescent Plasma

Margaret and George Fritsma attended the American Society for Clinical Pathology May 11, 2020 Virtual Town Hall presentation, “Covid-19 and the Blood Bank,” now recorded and available to all. The presentation featured panel participants Kimberly W. Sanford, MD, MASCP, Virginia Commonwealth University, ASCP President-Elect; Melody Boudreaus Nelson, MS, MLS [ASCP], Laboratory Operations Manager; Advent Health, […]

Covid and Lupus Anticoagulant

Two compelling publications appear to implicate lupus anticoagulant as a key factor in prolonged PTT results documented in seriously ill Covid victims. These could account for prolonged PTTs in the absence of hemorrhage. They are: Bowles L, Platton S, Yartey N, et al. Lupus anticoagulant and abnormal coagulation tests in patients with Covid-19. Downloaded from […]

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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

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