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February Quick Question Reminder

Just a reminder, only two more days to answer our February 1 Quick Question. For our March Quick Question we will be turning to our Specimen Integrity Survey. Watch for your monthly Cheat Sheet early next week.

Quick Question Archive

Eptifibatide Effect on Platelet Aggregometry

Do any Fritsma Factor participants have experience with the platelet aggregation effects of eptifibatide (integrelin), or of any of the GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors. Do you have experience with the Werfen Accumetrics VerifyNow IIb/IIIa assay? If so, please comment below or email [email protected].

Antiplatelet Therapy

Specimen Integrity Survey

With thanks to Stephen Duff, George was recently introduced to Franziska Broell of Halifax. Dr. Broeli has developed a device, the VitalTag, that is able to measure various specimen stresses such as storage time, temperature, and physical stresses. Click or tap here for preliminary information on the VitalTag. Dr. Broell has developed a questionnaire to […]

Specimen Management

Andexxa Study Results

On February 15, Heart.org reviewed the outcomes of a study published in the New England Journal documenting the clinical efficacy of andexanet alfa (Andexxa). The study is the first to illustrate clinical outcomes, cessation of bleeding, compared to previous data that used laboratory outcomes as evidence for reversal. Click or tap here to see the […]

Anticoagulant Therapy

Coumadin and Cortisone Interaction

A subscriber asks, I just received this week a cortisone shot in my knee. I am and have been on Warfarin for many years. Since the shot I seem to be dizzy and light headed. Is this common? Hello, and thank you for your question, as a laboratory scientist I can comment that there is […]

Anticoagulant Therapy

New FVIII Inhibitor Assay

An exciting news release from Precision BioLogic Inc. Today, we are announcing the availability of our new CRYOcheck Factor VIII Inhibitor Kit in Canada, the European Union, Australia, and New Zealand following market authorization by Health Canada and respective in-country regulatory authorities in January. Click here for full information about the CRYOcheck Factor VIII Inhibitor […]

Bleeding Disorders

DOACs Preferred in Afib

Here’s a January 31, 2019 Medscape article describing updated guidelines for using DOACs in non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

Anticoagulant Therapy

Quick Question: 41 YO Man With GI Bleeding

February 1, 2019 Quick Question Case A 41-year-old man was admitted with severe gastrointestinal bleeding. He reported that he drinks an average of 15 ounces of whiskey per day, a habit of 15 years. Upon admission he was given Librium for withdrawal and parenteral nutrition with multivitamins. He was jaundiced and reported the jaundice had […]

Bleeding Disorders

Quick Question: 6 YO Boy with Chronic Bleeding

Please click or tap our December 31, 2018 Quick Question post, a case study of a 6-year-old boy with chronic bleeding. We had a 2018–19 record 76 responses. The choices and responses are as follows. Answers Platelet function abnormality: 10 (13%) Von Willebrand disease: 14 (18%) Factor VII deficiency: 4 (5%) Factor XII deficiency: 4 […]

Bleeding Disorders

Assaying Factor Concentrates

A pre-publication article, Young G, Perry D, The International Prophylaxis Study Group (IPSG). Laboratory assay measurement of modified clotting factor concentrates: a review of the literature and recommendations for practice. J Thromb Haemostas pre-publication, 1-22-19 provides advice on how to measure extended half-life and B-domain-deleted factor concentrates VIII and IX. The article illustrates the wide […]

Bleeding Disorders

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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