Nov 2 2017

george

When to Collect Thrombophilia Specimens

George has been communicating with Drs. Elaine Keohane (Rutgers) and Larry Smith (Abbott) about how long to wait after a thrombotic event to collect a specimen for a thrombosis risk profile. Thrombosis risk profiles include assays for antithrombin, protein C, and protein S deficiencies, which can’t be accurately measured during periods of acute inflammation (such […]

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Anticoagulant Therapy

Oct 13 2017

george

Antithrombin Deficiency Affects Heparin Assays

Another important issue addressed by Dr. James Quesenberry, St. Luke’s Laboratory, Sioux City, Iowa. His message: I understood from early on that antithrombin (AT, antithrombin III, ATIII) deficient patients can’t be assayed for unfractionated heparin using the Stago chromogenic anti-Xa heparin assay.  I thought this was an all-or-none issue, only a big deal in congenital […]

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Anticoagulant Therapy

Oct 4 2017

george

Anti-Xa and PTT Conflict

George met James T. Quesenberry, MD, FCAP, Medical Director, St. Luke’s Laboratory, UnityPoint Health at the Mayo Medical Laboratories Bleeding and Thrombosing Diseases conference, Rochester, MN, September 13–15, 2017. Dr. Quesenberry subsequently addressed the issue of the ant- Xa vs PTT in monitoring heparin therapy. His message, “Our protocol for unfractionated heparin dosing uses the […]

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Anticoagulant Therapy

Sep 26 2017

george

QQ for 9-17: DOAC Measurement

Here are the responses to our August, 2017 Quck Question: “How do you assay for direct oral anti-Xa antithrombotics like rivaroxaban?” A. Prothrombin time: 2 (3%) B. Partial thromboplastin time: 2 (3%) C. Chromogenic anti-Xa: 31 (48%) D. Dilute Ruessell viper venom time: 1 (2%) E. DOASENSE urine detection strip: 0 F. We don’t assay […]

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Anticoagulant Therapy

Sep 20 2017

george

DOAC Interferences

Andrew Goodwin, MD, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Vermont Medical Center, told us about several substance that interfere with direct oral anticoagulant therapy and pointed us to the University of Washington Anticoagulation Services web site. For example, rivaroxaban (Xarelto) is potntiated by P-glycoprotein inhibitors and CYP3A4 inhibitors. Click or tap the link […]

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Anticoagulant Therapy

Sep 6 2017

george

Quick Question Correction

You may have noticed that our September, 2017 Quick Question contained an error: How do you assay for direct oral anti-Xa antithrombotics like dabigatran? Dabigatran, of course, is an oral direct thrombin inhibitor, not a direct anti-Xa inhibitor. This error was George’s, not Dave’s. Thanks to Dr. Emannuel Favaloro, who wrote: just advising that your […]

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Anticoagulant Therapy

Aug 29 2017

george

September QQ: DOAC Assay

Our September, 2017 Quick Question asks, How do you assay for direct oral anti-Xa antithrombotics such as rivaroxaban? The question, provided by friend and colleague, Dave McGlasson, also applies to apixaban, betrixaban, and edoxaban, all FDA-approved oral anti-Xa antithrombotics. What has never been approved is the chromogenic anti-Xa assay, despite release of calibrators and controls […]

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Anticoagulant Therapy

Aug 29 2017

george

POC and Plasma-based PTs

From Jake Fray, MLS, Denver Health POC Coordinator via Joan Polancic, MLS, Denver Health School of Medical Laboratory Science. We are having major issues with our point of care Coaguchek devices not correlating with our main lab Stago results.The pharmacists that use the Coagucheks for their outpatient anti-coag testing are getting pretty upset that there […]

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Anticoagulant Therapy

Aug 3 2017

george

Hemolysis and Heparin Assay

Frequent contributor Dave McGlasson called from the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science annual meeting venue in San Diego. He has just heard this question from a colleague. “Can you use the chromogenic anti-Xa heparin assay when the specimen is hemolyzed or icteric?” Her concern arose from cases in which patients had been treated with […]

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Anticoagulant Therapy

Jun 27 2017

george

Betrixaban (Bevyxxa) Approved June 23

The FDA approved Portola’s anti-Xa direct oral anticoagulant Betrixaban as Bevyxxa on June 23, 2017. Click or tap here for the FDA announcement and here for Portola’s press release, indications, and prescribing information. Thanks to Dr. Ali Sadeghi-Khomami of Precision BioLogic for sending along the announcement.

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Anticoagulant Therapy