Thrombophilia

VITT Mechanism Nature Preview

Here is a research article that was rushed to print in the July 7, 2021 Nature that describes the precise pathophysiology of vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia [VITT]. VITT is the critical 1/60,000 incidence adverse event associated with the adenoviral vector employed in the Astra-Zeneca and Johnson and Johnson vaccines, among others. VITT resembles heparin-induced thrombocytopenia […]

Platelet Function Testing

July, 2021 Quick Question: Covid Inflammatory Cell

On June 30, 2021, I [Geo] presented “Covid-coag Controversies, What is Immuno-Thrombo-Inflammation” at the Joint Annual Meeting of the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science, the Association of Genetic Technologists, and the Society of Armed Forces Medical Laboratory Scientists in Louisville, Kentucky. My handout for the meeting is attached. In follow-up, our July Quick Question […]

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

Mixing Study Limits

From a participant: Can you please help me to understand how to make a cut off value for a correction study so that above this value is corrected and below is not? Please provide an example. Thank you. Hello, and thank you for your question. Please click this link to our educational module, “Improving Acute […]

Bleeding Disorders

bigEndothelin-1

Here is a significant study of a plasma component associated with thrombosis in immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura published by a colleague and friend, Dr. X Long Zheng, an iTTP expert, and his associate, Dr. Nancy Lu: Lu R, Zheng XL. Plasma levels of bigEndothelin-1 are associated with renal insufficiency and in-hospital mortality of immune thrombotic […]

Covid Coag: Thromboinflammation Talk

On Thursday, April 29, 7–8 CDT, George presents for the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science–North Dakota via Zoom, “COVID-Coag: What the Heck is “Immuno-thrombo-inflammation?” Here is the updated six-per-page handout for my presentation.

Let’s Use “VITT”

ISTH has chosen the title, Vaccine-induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia [VITT] for the adverse event we identified as VAPIT on 4/15/21. ISTH has drafted the attached Interim Guidance for Diagnosis and Treatment of VITT [click]. Watch Fritsma Factor regularly for updates to this document as events unfold.

What is VAPIT?

Since the April 14 meeting of the CDC‘s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices [ACIP, click], information has become available about “Vaccine-Associated Prothrombotic Immune Thrombocytopenia” [VAPIT, or the ultimate name and acronym the scientific community ultimately settles on, if any]. Some vaccine adenovirus vectors may induce a rare autoimmune response that appears to associate with platelet […]

LA Interferences

Here is a 2019 poster describing interferences that affect the PTT-based lupus anticoagulant test profile: Effects of Common Interferents in Hexagonal Phase Phospholipid Neutralization Testing by Douglas C, Wood A, Sadeghi-Khomami A, and Black K. The poster features Precision BioLogic’s newly approved CRYOcheck™ Hex LA product.

Webinar Recording: VWF: Friend or Foe

A recording of our January 26, 2021 webinar, von Willebrand Factor, Friend or Foe [click] is now available on the BioMedica Diagnotics, Inc. home page. Here is a summary from our January announcements: Von Willebrand factor [VWF] is crucial to platelet adhesion and proper effective coagulation. In addition, VWF appears to be associated with inflammation […]

Load more

George Fritsma is a medical laboratory scientist, educator, and author. George is a member of the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis, the International Society for Laboratory Hematology, and the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science.

Cheat Sheets from George

Quick Question