Screening Assays

CAP Today Announces VEA Guide

The October 2023 issue of CAP Today announced the publication of Volod, O, Whole Blood Viscoelastic Assays in Clinical Diagnosis: An Illustrated Case-Based Guide. A brief interview with editor Oksona Volod, MD, describes the guide and lists its contributors. The guide is a comprehensive review of whole blood viscoelastometry [VET] from its start with the […]

Global Hemostasis Assays

CLN: Viscoelastometry Article

Here is a May 2023 Clinical Laboratory News cover review by colleague and fellow “clotter” Oksana Volod, MD, entitled “Is TEG the Right Assay? [click]” The article describes the updated means for near-patient viscoelastometry assays, whose original methodology became available in 1948. Clinical Laboratory News is a widely distributed American Association for Clinical Chemistry [AACC} […]

Global Hemostasis Assays

Discrepant PT and INR Results

From Soha Abuelela. I’m using the ACL Pro Elite for PT and PTT testing in my lab using Hemosil Recombiplastin 2G reagent but I frequently notice sample results showing normal PT time in seconds with normal concentration but the INR is above the reference interval! Could you please help me with possible causes and your […]

Anticoagulant Therapy

December, 2022 Quick Question: Thrombosis Risk Profiles

I’ve been reviewing Choosing Wisely recommendations and Medscape discussions on the importance of assays for congenital thrombosis risk factors such as antithrombin, protein S, and protein C. We’d like to know what comprises our profiles by asking “What parameter is NOT part of your thrombosis risk factor profile?” Please access our December Quick Question on […]

Quick Question Archive

Hemolysis Level and Coag Assays

A timely question from Frank Cragg, MD, Nova Scotia Health. “Hi, I have the IL 750 ready to implement but am getting conflicting information on how much hemolysis to allow. Please help. Regards, Frank Cragg MD, FRCPC [C]. Hello, Dr. Cragg, and thank you for your question, which I’ve forwarded to several experts. Although more […]

Screening Assays

November 2021 Quick Question: Case Study, Prolonged PTT

Our November 2021 Quick Question involves a 3-year-old female patient with no bleeding history whose pre-op PT and PTT results were PT 13.3 seconds [RI 12-6–14.6] and PTT 51 seconds [RI 25–35] and asks what is the most likely coagulation factor deficiency. Please select your answer and add your comments below.

Factor V Inhibitor

I [Geo] am preparing an audio PowerPoint module describing the primary coagulation assays, PT, PTT, TT, and fibrinogen [Fg] assays. I asked several colleagues if we continue to encounter factor V inhibitors. Before ~2010 we encountered anti-FV and sometimes anti-FV plus anti-FII [prothrombin] as cross-reacting antibodies that arose in response to bovine thrombin used in […]

Screening Assays

New Fundamentals in Hemostasis

Thanks to my colleague Carlo Ledesma, MS, SH(ASCP)QLS, MT(ASCPi), MT(AMT) for pointing me to an in-depth hemostasis review, Versteeg HH, Heemskerk JWM, Levi M, Reitsma PH. New Fundamentals in Hemostasis. Physiol Rev 2013;93:327–58. This is a valuable teaching resource that helps elucidate the cell-based hemostasis model.

Arterial Thrombosis

PT/PTT Screening

Yesterday, 9-1-20, a colleague contacted George [me] because her physcian had ordered a PT and PTT as part of a pre-procedural workup. She asked what the PT/PTT accomplished, and both the physician and nurse practitioner offered no explanation. After considerable discussion, the PT/PTT order was canceled. I recalled a similar situation from 2011 when my […]

Screening Assays

November, 2019 Quick Question

Our November, 2019 Quick Question asked, “What may you substitute for the PT when LAC prolongs the PT?” We accumulated 53 votes. A. None, use the PT anyway: 9% (5) B. Chromogenic anti-Xa: 13% (7) C. Chromogenic factor X: 30% (16) D. Activated clotting time: 8% (4) E. Thrombin time: 11% (6) F. There is […]

Anticoagulant 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