Antiplatelet Therapy

Platelet Function Testing in the OR

From Jim Turner: Hey Mr Fritsma! Great site and I really like the longer hair! I now work for TriMedX. I am one of their clinical engineers here in Birmingham at St Vincent’s Medical Center. I (and others) are having a problem with this platelet activity instrument called the VerifyNow. The heaters on these things […]

Antiplatelet Therapy

Aspirin Inhibition Test–Accumetrics

On December 30, Pat Doleski at Kaleida Health asked, We perform aspirin and P2Y12 (clopidogrel) testing using the Accumetrics at two different sites in our hospital system. Twice per year we perform an “inter-lab” on a patient sample to show comparability. We use the 10% CV listed in the insert to determine acceptability, which works […]

Antiplatelet Therapy

QQ Responses: Platelet Function

Here are the results of our November, 2014 Quick Question: What platelet function test do you use for platelet function disorders and/or for aspirin and clopidogrel efficacy? a. Siemens PFA-100: 35%, 24 votes b, Accumetrics VerifyNow: 25%, 17 votes c. Light transmittance aggregometry: 18%, 12 votes d. None: 10%, 7 votes e. Whole blood impedance […]

Antiplatelet Therapy

Genotyping for Clopidogrel may not Work

A September 4, 2013 release from the European Society of Cardiology congress held in Amsterdam describes data from the ARCTIC-GENE study illustrating that genotyping for metabolic polymorphisms provides no improvement in clopidogrel therapy outcomes. You can read more in this linked Heart.com article.

Antiplatelet Therapy

Omaha Presentation Handouts

George substituted for Dave McGlasson and presented, “Monitoring the New Antithrombotics: Whatever Happened to the PT and PTT?” on Wednesday, April 3, 10 AM; and “Antiplatelet Therapy, Do Aspirin and Plavix Work?” on Thursday, April 3, 2:30–2:30 PM at the Great Plains Regional Laboratory Expo in Omaha Nebraska. His presentation handouts, in PDF, appear on our Audio Modules page. Thanks […]

Anticoagulant Therapy

Triple Antithrombotic Therapy

Prof. Bernadette Rodak of Indiana University forwarded a question about parallel anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy from the ASCLS Consumer Web Forum. In the interest of confidentiality, I paraphrase the question: “What should the international normalized ratio (INR) be when on simultaneous antiplatelet therapy (aspirin and clopidogrel) for percutaneous intervention (PCI) stent placement and anticoagulation therapy (Coumadin) […]

Anticoagulant Therapy

Clopidogrel Efficacy

This question arrived last week in the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science Consumer Forum: “I would like to know the differences between platelet aggregation testing and pharmacogenetic testing of CYP2C19 for clopidogrel. In 2010, the FDA issued a black box warning for clopidogrel in persons who are CYP2C19 poor metabolizers. I am very interested in what […]

Antiplatelet Therapy

VerifyNow Platelet Function Screen?

Attached to the December 28 post, “Platelet Function Testing and the Bleeding Time” with the AC Ivy story was the question, “Is the Accumetrics VerifyNow aggregometer useful for screening patients for inherited platelet function disorders?” Yes, I consider the VerifyNow assay effective in screening for platelet function defects, like storage pool disorder or platelet secretion disorder (aspirin-like syndrome), however […]

Antiplatelet Therapy

TRILOGY ACS: Prasugrel Efficacy

Here is a link to a recent TRILOGY ACS report indicating that prasugrel (Effient) is equivalent to clopidogrel (Plavix) in reducing major cardiovascular events.

Antiplatelet Therapy

VerifyNow P2Y12 Assay: Change to PRU

I received this truncated communication on July 16 from Michael Suter with no follow-up, but I post it regardless, as Accumetrics’ decision to change their P2Y12 cartridge report seems to be a concern for many: “We monitor Plavix therapy using the VerifyNow P2Y12 assay kit. Accumetrics is in the process of discontinuing the reporting of percent inhibition, leaving the PRU […]

Antiplatelet Therapy

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George Fritsma is a medical laboratory scientist, educator, and author. George holds faculty appointments with Rutgers University and Michigan State University, and is a member of the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis, American Association of Clinical Chemists, and American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science.

Cheat Sheets from George

Quick Question