Specimen Management

HCT >55%

Click or tap this December, 2019 CAP Today “Best of Q&A” series answer to “Should a patient with a hematocrit greater than 55 percent be redrawn for correction always or only when prothrombin time and partial prothrombin time are elevated?” A shout out to Andrew Goodwin IV, MD, Department of Pathology, University of Vermont College […]

Specimen Management

Quick Question: Discard Tube?

Our December, 2019 Quick Question asks, “When collecting hemostasis specimens, when do you use a discard tube?” Results from 46 respondents: A. Just before every blue-closure tube: 6 (13%) B. Never, the discard tube is unnecessary: 2 (4%) C. Just after an additive tube to avoid carryover: 8 (18%) D. When collecting through an infusion […]

Quick Question Archive

December, 2019 Quick Question

Check our December, 2019 Quick Question on the right: “When collecting hemostasis specimens, when do you use a discard tube?” Please provide an answer based on your facility’s specimen management policy. If your answer doesn’t match the answers that are offered, please provide your comment below or send it to George at [email protected] for publication.

Quick Question Archive

Discard Prior to Coagulation Specimen Collection

George, I would like to get your thoughts and references if possible about the “proper” amount of blood to discard before drawing samples for coagulation testing. In the current environment of minimizing blood waste and limiting volume of blood draws, we are reviewing our current policy. Our current SOP states to draw and discard 20 […]

Specimen Management

Specimen Integrity Survey Extended

On behalf of Dr. Franziska Broell, we’ve extended our Specimen Integrity Survay (click or tap) through April 30. Please see our March 1, 2019 Specimen Interity Survey entry describing Dr. Broell’s promising VitalTag device.

Specimen Management

Specimen Integrity Survey Quick Question

Our March, 2019 Quick Question consists of a Survey Monkey survey (click or tap) on specimen integrity. Please see the entry for a full explanation.

Quick Question Archive

Specimen Integrity Survey

With thanks to Stephen Duff, George was recently introduced to Franziska Broell of Halifax. Dr. Broeli has developed a device, the VitalTag, that is able to measure various specimen stresses such as storage time, temperature, and physical stresses. Click or tap here for preliminary information on the VitalTag. Dr. Broell has developed a questionnaire to […]

Specimen Management

Quick Question: Specimen Integrity Response

Our December, 2018 Quick Question on specimen integrity drew 46 responses. The question was, “How do you manage a plasma that appears to have fibrin strands?” Here are the answers: a. Reject and request a redraw: 41 (89%) b. Perform requested assay and report if non-critical: 1 (2%) c. Perform factor assays to confirm specimen […]

Quick Question Archive

Quick Question: Specimen Integrity

In follow-up to a December 1, 2018 post, Reference Lab Specimen Integrity, our December, 2018 Quick Question asks, “How do you manage a plasma that appears to have fibrin strands?” In case no answer matches your protocol, please provide a response below. Here is a response from Robyn Coleman: We would reject any sample for […]

Quick Question Archive

Reference Lab Specimen Integrity

Hello George, I was referred to you by my current professor John Landis. I have a question regarding PT‘s being performed in a reference lab setting. The laboratory that I work for is essentially a reference lab in that we get samples from the surrounding areas and even different states. We typically receive our samples […]

Specimen Management

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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.

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