Thrombophilia

July, 2020 Quick Question on Covid Coag Results

Our July, 2020 Quick Question, “What assay does your lab use to monitor Covid-19 severity?” attracted 64 responses that were nearly unanimous. Answers: Fibrin degradation products: 3 [5%] D-dimer: 53 [83%] PT and PTT: 3 [5%] Platelet count: 1 [2%] Other: 4 [6%] Several publications, especially from China, record the parallel use of FDPs and […]

ISTH Guidelines for TTP

Here are the July, 2020 ISTH diagnostic guidelines for thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura as reported at the recent digital congress: Zheng XL, Vesely SK, Cataland SR, et al. Guidelines for the diagnosis of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. J Thromb Haemost 2020;pre-pub, doi: 10.1111/JTH.15006

Covid Labs Table

Here is an updated table of hemostasis, hematology and clinical chemistry assays plus inflammatory makers used to monitor Covid infection progression. Also attached is an article detailing the the diagnostic assays; RT-PCR and serological assays: Smithgall MC, Dowlatshahi M, Spitalnik SL, Hod EA, Rai AJ. Types of assays for SARS-CoV-2 testing: a review Laboratory Medicine […]

Can Heparin Prevent Covid?

Thanks to George’s colleague Rodney Rohde, PhD, Texas State University, who posted this Contagion Live article by Grant M. Gallagher on LinkedIn entitled FDA-Approved Anticoagulant May Stop Coronavirus From Binding to Human Cells [click or tap]. This is a suprising and apparently authentic description of a non-antithrombotic Covid-preventative property of heparin, separate from heparin’s prophylactic […]

Anticoagulant Therapy

ISTH Poster: DRVVT Interferents

We recommend ISTH Poster PB0669, by Sadeghi-Khomami A, Lamont D, Boylan M, et al. Effects of Anticoagulants and Common Interfering Substances on Four Commercially Available dRVVT Assays.

Covid and Hemostasis Riley Article

For a succinct summary of hemostasis mechanisms and management in the Covid-19 infection, see Riley P. Pandemic care: The need for hemostasis testing in critically ill COVID-19 patients. MLO 5-20-20, accessed 7-7-20. Also visit Stago’s Edvantage Virtual University for their recent program, Thromboembolism in COVID-19: Laboratory Considerations by Michael P Gulseth, Pharm. D., BCPS, FMSHP, […]

Anticoagulant Therapy

Covid Lab Table

Clickor tap here for a current table of Covid lab values.

July, 2020 Quick Question: Covid

Our July 2020 Quick Question highlights the hemostasis laboratory’s responsibility in monitoring the thrombotic aspects of Covid disease progression and recovery. Please provide your answer to “What assay does your lab use to monitor Covid-19 severity?” Feel free to add comments about this critical need using the Comments link or by emailing George at [email protected].

Arterial Thrombosis

June, 2020 QQ: Protein S Deficiency Results

Our June, 2020 Quick Question, “What assay does your lab use as an initial protein S screen?” attracted 37 answers, implying that not many of us are testing routinely for protein S deficiency. Here are the answers: Total protein S antigen 3% [1] Free protein S antigen 43% [16] Clot-based protein S activity: 30% [11] […]

Quick Question Archive

Familial Thrombosis Case

George received this question on June 28, 2020, and has secured permission to post here while withholding the correspondent’s identity. Hello, and thank you for the Fritsma Factor. Our family is of Eastern Europe parentage and we have a genetic clotting family history. Several occurences have shown up at age 28 after a preceeding event. […]

Anticoagulant Therapy

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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.

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