Posts

Audio PowerPoint Modules

George received this question from MariaElena Franco: Hello, George, I am unable to watch the educational modules. My IT department says it’s because Adobe Flash is no longer supported. Are you hearing this from other users? Response: Hello, MariaElena, and thank you for your email. Your IT group is correct, Adobe has dropped Flash. I’m […]

More on Covid Testing

Thanks to Bob Gosselin for this current comprehensive Guiseppi Lippi review of Covid testing–click or tap here.

Covid and Porphyrin

This is an “off-label” post, as it doesn’t directly address hemostasis, however, on April 6, Ari Elman, MD, Hem-Onc at Greater Baltimore Medical Center wrote, “As I’m sure you have, I have been reading report after report regarding these patients and trying to find some understanding of the pathophysiology that might help in treatment. A […]

Case: elevated D-dimer

Here is a case presented by a participant. This was posted as a comment to an October 21, 2011 string, D-dimer Lot-to-Lot QC and reproduced here. “I have been getting dizzy when I stand up and my calves burn and cramp. When I bend over I get short of breath to the point that it […]

Reference Intervals

I recently became reacquainted with colleague Madeline Ducate, PhD, who supports pharmaceutical houses with the laboratory needs for international clinical trials. Madeline is occasionally confronted with a lack of laboratory reference intervals in under-resourced countries, where cultural norms or the lack of funding limit specimen collection and processing from healthy subjects. In vitro diagnostics companies […]

Bleeding Disorders

CAPTCHA

If you are joining the family of Fritsma Factor participants, or if you choose to communicate through the Contact function, you may see a CAPTCHA box asking you to indicate that you are not a “bot.” This has become necessary to block spam, as we’ve lately experienced a shower of off-topic messages. If CAPTCHA is […]

Teaching Hemostasis

Diane Deutsch Keahey writes, I need to teach factor assays, VWD tests, and VIII:C and lab tests for secondary disorders of hemostasis. Can you recommend a simple resource? Please and thank you. Hello, Dr. Keahey. If you will pardon my self-reference, may I recommend our audio-visual PowerPoint educational modules. The modules are developed to go […]

Nothing New Since 1982

George’s colleague Kyle Fortier posted a provocative 12-1-15 comment on his timeline, “Professional vent: just spoke with a lab professional who said “nothing has changed in hemostasis since I took the course in 1982.” This person has worked in micro their entire career. I cringed. A lot.” With Kyle’s permission, I’d like us to think […]

CAPS?

As anticipated, Ben Troyer’s August 31, 2014 question about STAT lupus anticoagulant testing drew a number of comments. George also discussed the question with local colleagues who brought up the rare possibility of catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS, Asherson Syndrome), see attached article for description. This may be an additional reason for ordering a STAT LA test, however […]

Medical Laboratory Professionals’ Week

Welcome to Medical Laboratory Professionals’ Week, April 20–26. We are the hidden profession that saves lives. In celebration, we’ve added a new audio PowerPoint to our series, Hematology Case Studies: Lupus Anticoagulant Profile and Specimen Management. Continue to consult with Fritsma Factor, as we receive new and updated entries regularly.

Load more

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