Register Login

Confusing Coag Test Names

On October 16, 2013 George spoke on the subject, “Clumsy Coagulation Communication, Let’s Blame the Lab” in Seattle, Washington. One issue we discussed was confusing coagulation test names, and we talked about the kinds of erroneous orders that are generated. Here is a follow-up to the presentation, a brief list of confusing names with an explanation for each. This list may be incomplete, please comment with some test ordering and naming problems you have seen. Geo.

Confusing Coagulation Test Names

Comments (6)
Coagulation Factors
Emmanuel
Dec 3, 2013 2:24am

I have a new one for you; a clinician recently wanted a plat
I have a new one for you; a clinician recently wanted a platelet function screen, was told to order a PFA-100, ended up writing an order for a PSA-100, which was booked in as a PSA, and then automatically cancelled by the Lab Information system because it was on a female patient and the system only accepts PSA testing for males. Meanwhile in the lab we were still waiting for that PFA-100 to come down. Eventually we checked the system and rescued the sample. Yes, it was a blue top and had not been spun.

McGlasson
Nov 21, 2013 10:32am

I have actually had someone confuse a Protein S with a Sickl
I have actually had someone confuse a Protein S with a Sickledex test. From George: Thanks, Dave, I never thought of this one.

Herb Crown
Nov 21, 2013 6:54am

No matter what our “clumsy communication” problems are, I wi
No matter what our “clumsy communication” problems are, I will take them over the constant barrage of name changes that microbiology goes through any day of the week. :~}. From George: Thanks, Herb, you’ve made me feel much better!

Linda Stang
Nov 20, 2013 10:32am

One other mixup – which I have only heard of on one occasion
One other mixup – which I have only heard of on one occasion – is a patient who had both a Protein C and a Protein S collected….however the physician had ordered a “C & S” – a “culture and sensitivity”!!
(thought you might need a chuckle 😉
From George: Another one I could have never predicted!

George Fritsma
Nov 18, 2013 7:50pm

Thank you, Scott, I hadn’t thought of this, but physicians a
Thank you, Scott, I hadn’t thought of this, but physicians and nurses often think of lupus anticoagulant as a test for lupus erythematosus, and why not, given the name.

Scmiller
Nov 18, 2013 8:20am

I do not see the infamous “Lupus test” in here anywhere. Th
I do not see the infamous “Lupus test” in here anywhere. This is a common clarification we make for students, as even our veteran techs carelessly refer to it around the lab as a “Lupus test”.

The actual acronym we use here is LTAG for Lupus Type Anti-Globulin. I have also heard it referred to as a Lupus type anti-coagulant. Of course, it is neither a test for lupus erythematosus or causes “anticoagulation” in vivo.

Scott Miller

Leave a Reply