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Coagulation Specimen Management

Thanks to Tigist Bekalu for these specimen management questions… What should we do when there is lipemia, icterus (bilirubin), or hemolysis in coagulation tests? Which tests are affected and which are not? How are the results typically reported when we encounter hemolysis, icterus, or lipemia? Sometimes, instead of a number, it just says “Failed.” Also, […]

Clotpedia

Click here for Clotpedia, a new (2025) ECAT service developed by Dr. Piet Meijer. Please visit our “Resources” page at your convenience.

Isolated VWF Activity or Antigen Orders

ASCLS has developed a recommendation for publication on the Effective Test Utilization website that ASCLS populates in collaboration with ASCP and ASM: Don’t order isolated von Willebrand factor antigen (VWF:Ag) or von Willebrand factor activity (VWF:Act) assays alone. When von Willebrand disease is indicated, order a von Willebrand disease profile consisting of VWF:Ag, VWF:Act, and […]

More on CAP Specimen Requirements

In follow-up to my February 25, 2025 post, New CAP Survey Coag POC Requirements, I asked Dr. Andrew Goodwin, “Does CAP address courier specimen management? I see specimens collected at regional clinics that stand in a door-mounted specimen box for extended periods. I also wonder whether couriers have equipment maintaining coag specimen temperatures between 18 […]

March 2025 Cheat Sheet

Click here for your March 2025 Cheat Sheet or await your copy to arrive by email on or after March 3. If you would like to join the Cheat Sheet mailing list, enter your name and email address in the right-hand column.

February 2025 Quick Question

Our February 2025 Quick Question is a quiz that asks “What factor deficiency is associated with poor wound healing?” You may answer on the right and if convenient, add your comments below and watch for the results on or after March 1.

Platelet Clumping

I received this question on Friday, January 17, 2025: “Hello, where can I find guidance or literature on using sodium citrate tubes to mitigate platelet clumping?” Thank you for your question. This question was partially addressed in a March 11, 2024 post entitled Platelet Satellitism, however, I’ve attached two open-access articles that are helpful. First […]

Annals of Blood Author Interview

The 2018 article, Ernst DJ, Fritsma GA, McGlasson DM. Labeling tubes before collection threatens patient safety, 2018 Annals of Blood, doi: 10.21037/aob.2018.02.06 earned the journal’s Readers’ Choice Award for being accessed more than 20,000 times. AOB Editor Jin Ye Yeo invited me (Geo) to provide a written interview, released on December 18, 2024. Thanks to […]

Medical Laboratory Science Career Pathway

This post is a departure from our hemostasis focus. I (Geo) am a Medical Laboratory Scientist practitioner and educator. If you wish to apply your science knowledge to a humanitarian career, consider our profession. On December 6, 2024, ASCP’s Am J Clin Pathol published Guenther GA, Shahrir SF, Skillman SM, Kundu I, Garcia E, Frogner […]

NBA: Why 50%?

From Barbara Schmidtz BSA, MSc, MLT, Regina General Hospital, Sask Health Authority (SHA), 12/6/2024: Hi, I found your page while googling. I’m an MLT in a hospital lab. I was wondering if you could tell me why Bethesda titers are read at 50% residual activity. I understand the curve is linear from 25-75%, but I […]

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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

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