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IndexEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - November 4, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Source Type: journals

Respiratory Viruses in Bronchiolitis and Their Link to Recurrent Wheezing and AsthmaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Bronchiolitis is the leading cause of hospitalization for children younger than 1 year of age and these hospitalized children have an increased risk for developing childhood asthma. It remains unclear, however, which children who have severe bronchiolitis (eg, an episode requiring hospitalization) will develop recurrent wheezing or asthma. Although many environmental and genetic factors may play a role in the pathway from bronchiolitis to asthma, this article focuses on the viruses that have been linked to bronchiolitis and how these viruses may predict or contribute to future wheezing and asthma. The article also discusse...
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - November 4, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Jonathan M. Mansbach, Carlos A. Camargo Source Type: journals

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine DevelopmentEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a clinically significant cause of respiratory tract disease, especially among high-risk infants and immunocompromised and elderly adults. Despite the burden of disease, there is no licensed prophylactic RSV vaccine. The initial efforts to develop an RSV vaccine involved formalin-inactivated virus preparations that unexpectedly caused vaccine-enhanced disease in clinical trials in RSV-naive children. Over the last 40 years, cautious and deliberate progress has been made toward RSV vaccine development using various experimental approaches, including live attenuated strains and vector-base...
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - November 4, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Yoshihiko Murata Source Type: journals

Recently Discovered Human CoronavirusesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This article focuses on the characteristics of the five HCoVs that are known, and summarizes current knowledge of their pathogenic potential in people, with an emphasis on the interactions between these viruses and their cognate receptors on susceptible target cells. (Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - November 4, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Brigitte A. Wevers, Lia van der Hoek Source Type: journals

The Human Bocaviruses: A Review and Discussion of Their Role in InfectionEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This article is a comprehensive review of what is known about HBoV. It includes an evaluation of diagnostic modalities, symptoms occurring in affected patients, and a discussion as to whether HBoV is responsible for identified clinical manifestations. The article reviews the incidence and effect of coinfection and updates on related members (HBoV-2 and HBoV-3) recently reported. Understanding of respiratory viruses such as HBoV remains vitally important to the health of adult and pediatric patients. (Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - November 4, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Brian D.W. Chow, Frank P. Esper Source Type: journals

Emerging Molecular Assays for Detection and Characterization of Respiratory VirusesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This article describes several emerging molecular assays that have potential applications in the diagnosis and monitoring of respiratory viral infections. These techniques include direct nucleic acid detection by quantum dots, loop-mediated isothermal amplification, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification, amplification using arbitrary primers, target-enriched multiplexing amplification, pyrosequencing, padlock probes, solid and suspension microarrays, and mass spectrometry. Several of these systems already are commercially available to provide multiplex amplification and high-throughput detection and identificati...
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - November 4, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Wenjuan Wu, Yi-Wei Tang Source Type: journals

Utilization of Nucleic Acid Amplification Assays for the Detection of Respiratory VirusesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This article reviews the performance of commercially available assays and discusses issues relevant to the development of in-house assays. (Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - November 4, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Sue C. Kehl, Swati Kumar Source Type: journals

Antigen-Based Assays for the Identification of Influenza Virus and Respiratory Syncytial Virus: Why and How to Use Them in Pediatric PracticeEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This article describes the clinical and socioeconomic relevance of influenza (IV) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in pediatrics, the characteristics and limitations of currently available assays, and the impact of rapid diagnostic tests. This article shows that rapid tests for the detection and identification of IV and RSV in the respiratory secretions of infants and children are useful in the diagnosis of common, and possibly severe diseases, such as influenza and bronchiolitis. The tests' specificity and sensitivity make them most reliable when the prevalence of influenza or RSV infection is high, which suggests th...
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - November 4, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Nicola Principi, Susanna Esposito Source Type: journals

Developments in Immunologic Assays for Respiratory VirusesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This article discusses the major immunologic methods employed for respiratory virus diagnosis, recent developments in immunoassays and sample collection, and current test algorithms. (Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - November 4, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Marie Louise Landry Source Type: journals

Developments in Tissue Culture Detection of Respiratory VirusesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Viral culture is the historical gold standard for detection of most viruses that cause respiratory tract infections. Viral culture remains valuable because it is reasonably sensitive for most respiratory viruses, and it is cheaper and less technically demanding than nucleic acid amplified tests. The disadvantages of conventional viral culture using multiple tubes of cell lines are that it is labor intensive, moderately expensive, and slow. Advances in viral culture include the introduction of new cell lines, which can be more sensitive or convenient than previously used cell lines, and the use of shell-vial culture for res...
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - November 4, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Alexander J. McAdam, Ann Marie Riley Source Type: journals

PrefaceEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Respiratory viruses continue to be a fascinating subject. The mutability of these viruses leads to the periodic emergence of new serotypes or species of viruses as human pathogens. Because these viruses are readily transmitted, a new respiratory virus that emerges can spread rapidly. The coronavirus associated with the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and the novel influenza A (H1N1) virus (swine influenza) are two examples of respiratory viruses that spread very quickly after emerging. According to data from the World Health Organization, there have been 55,867 cases and 238 deaths due to the H1N1 virus to date (h...
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - November 4, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Alexander J. McAdam Source Type: journals

Forthcoming issuesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - November 4, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Source Type: journals

ContentsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - November 4, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Source Type: journals

IndexEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - August 31, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Source Type: journals

Selected Topics in Point-of-Care Testing: Whole Blood Creatinine, Influenza Testing, Fetal Fibronectin and Patient Self-testing in the HomeEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This article reviews selected topics in point-of-care testing including: whole blood creatinine testing, influenza testing, fetal fibronectin, and patient self-testing. Each of these topics reflects an important new application of point-of-care testing and together they illustrate the many niche applications for these technologies. (Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - August 31, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Kent Lewandrowski Source Type: journals

Point-of-Care Testing for Disasters: Needs Assessment, Strategic Planning, and Future DesignEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Objective evidence-based national surveys serve as a first step in identifying suitable point-of-care device designs, effective test clusters, and environmental operating conditions. Preliminary survey results show the need for point-of-care testing (POCT) devices using test clusters that specifically detect pathogens found in disaster scenarios. Hurricane Katrina, the tsunami in southeast Asia, and the current influenza pandemic (H1N1, “swine flu”) vividly illustrate lack of national and global preparedness. Gap analysis of current POCT devices versus survey results reveals how POCT needs can be fulfilled. Future thin...
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - August 31, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Gerald J. Kost, Kristin N. Hale, T. Keith Brock, Richard F. Louie, Nicole L. Gentile, Tyler K. Kitano, Nam K. Tran Source Type: journals

Provider-performed MicroscopyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This article discusses rules and regulations concerning POCT, especially those covering provider-performed microscopy (PPM). Types of PPM are also covered, including the fern test, tests for the presence on fecal leukocytes and pinworms, and examinations of urine sediment and seminal fluid. The coordination of PPM within a hospital is also covered. (Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - August 31, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Frederick L. Kiechle, Isabel Gauss Source Type: journals

Point-of-Care Testing for Cardiac Markers in Acute Coronary Syndromes and Heart FailureEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Advances in technologies for immunoassay testing have enabled the development of 15-minute whole-blood assays for cardiac markers in the evaluation of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and congestive heart failure. In many cases, the analytical performance of these assays is equivalent to that of testing in the central laboratory. Rapid whole-blood point-of-care assays for troponin, creatine kinase isoenzyme CK-MB, myoglobin, and B-type natriuretic peptides have facilitated efforts to restructure conventional approaches to ACS and heart failure in the emergency room. Improvements in outcomes, including decreased...
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - August 31, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Kent Lewandrowski Source Type: journals

Point-of-Care Testing and Molecular Diagnostics: Miniaturization RequiredEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Turnaround time for molecular diagnostic tests is critical in detecting infectious agents, in determining a patient's ability to metabolize a drug or drug class, and in detecting minimal residual disease. These applications would benefit from the development of a point-of-care device for nucleic acid extraction, amplification, and detection. The ideal device would have a low cost per test, use a disposable unit use device for all steps in the assay, be portable, and provide a result that requires no interpretation. The creation of such a device requires miniaturization of current technologies and the use of microfluidics, ...
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - August 31, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Frederick L. Kiechle, Carol A. Holland Source Type: journals

Point-of-Care Testing in CoagulationEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This article discusses the current status of coagulation POC methodologies, focusing on the potential clinical uses and the limitations of platelet function testing, prothrombin time/international normalized ratio, D-dimer, and activated clotting time (ACT). Additional studies are eagerly awaited regarding potential future uses of POC coagulation testing, including the role of platelet function testing and ACT heparin management systems. (Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - August 31, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Elizabeth M. Van Cott Source Type: journals

Fecal Occult Blood TestingEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This article provides information on the screening and diagnostic tests available for CRC detection as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each. (Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - August 31, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Kimberly W. Sanford, Richard A. McPherson Source Type: journals

Tight Glycemic Control and Point-of-Care TestingEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Until recently, inpatient glycemic management focused solely on the diabetic patient with few reported studies that discussed hyperglycemic management of the nondiabetic patient. For the last 35 years, the prevailing notion was that hyperglycemia in the acutely ill nondiabetic inpatient was a consequence of illnesses as well as a marker of its severity. It was also thought to be an adaptive response to injury necessary for survival and not necessarily a prognostic indicator of morbidity or mortality. In this article, we discuss the current school of thought regarding prognostic implications of nondiabetic inpatient hypergl...
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - August 31, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: David Alter, Greg Deines Source Type: journals

Drug-of-Abuse Testing at the Point of CareEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This article describes the characteristics of point-of-care devices for drug-of-abuse testing with a focus on clinical utility and patient care. This article is not a comprehensive review of all available point-of-care devices. Instead, it discusses general principles of point-of-care testing for drugs of abuse. (Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - August 31, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Stacy E.F. Melanson Source Type: journals

HIV Testing Near the Patient: Changing the Face of HIV TestingEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Virological, epidemiologic, and operational barriers have slowed the progress toward effective management and eradication of HIV infection, despite significant advances in diagnosis since the early 1980s. Because early diagnosis profoundly affects the health care and survival of infected/high-risk individuals, and because the time required for conventional testing remains a barrier in many settings, rapid HIV testing has been developed for use both in the clinical laboratory and at the point of care. Recent studies have identified applications, advantages, and limitations of these assays, which may influence the developmen...
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - August 31, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Sheldon Campbell, Yuri Fedoriw Source Type: journals

Perspectives on Cost and Outcomes for Point-of-Care TestingEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Point-of-care testing (POCT) is usually more expensive on a unit-cost basis than testing performed in a central laboratory. It is difficult to manage POCT and to maintain regulatory compliance, especially in large institutions. However, some POCT technologies have improved patient outcomes (patient self-glucose monitoring in the home, tight glycemic control in intensive care settings) or hospital or emergency department operations (whole-blood cardiac-marker testing and D-dimer testing in emergency departments). In some cases, these outcomes result simply from making a new test available, rather than performing the test at...
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - August 31, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Elizabeth Lee-Lewandrowski, Kent Lewandrowski Source Type: journals

Regulatory Compliance for Point-of-Care Testing: 2009 United States PerspectiveEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This article reviews the status of regulatory compliance of point-of-care testing from a perspective of the current regulations in effect in the United Sates in 2009. (Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - August 31, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Sharon S. Ehrmeyer, Ronald H. Laessig Source Type: journals

Point-of-Care Testing InformaticsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Managing patient test data and documenting regulatory compliance for tests performed at the point of care have traditionally been significant problems. In many situations, manual record-keeping has proven entirely inadequate for maintaining the integrity of the patient medical record or for providing an audit trail for quality assurance activities. Starting in the 1990s, a number of companies began to develop and market point-of-care data management systems. Over time, these data management systems have become increasingly sophisticated. It is now possible to interface multiple point-of-care devices from different manufact...
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - August 31, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Ji Yeon Kim, Kent Lewandrowski Source Type: journals

Management of a Point-of-Care Testing ProgramEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The approach to managing a point-of-care testing (POCT) program has evolved over recent years. Although many of the essential features of early POCT management programs remain intact, contemporary challenges including expansion of the test menu, changing regulatory requirements, and the development of more sophisticated data management connectivity require ongoing adaptation of POCT management programs. Despite improvements in test quality and regulatory compliance, significant challenges for the management of POCT will continue for the foreseeable future. (Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - August 31, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Kim Gregory, Kent Lewandrowski Source Type: journals

Point-of-Care Testing: An Overview and a Look to the Future (Circa 2009, United States)Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Point-of-care testing is a rapidly growing area in laboratory medicine. Technologies related to point-of-care testing have unique analytical features and are used in a number of clinical applications. These attributes combined with complex regulatory requirements have made point-of-care testing a true specialty within pathology. Manufacturers continue to develop new point-of-care tests and have consolidated multiple assays to single small handheld or bench-top devices. Enterprise hospital-wide data management systems are available to facilitate improved regulatory compliance and transmit test results into the electronic me...
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - August 31, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Kent Lewandrowski Source Type: journals

PrefaceEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Point-of-care testing (POCT), also called bedside or near-patient testing, is an emerging specialty in laboratory medicine. Attracting considerable interest in the medical literature, POCT is one of the fastest growing areas in laboratory medicine. In this issue, we present a number of articles on the current state of POCT, circa 2009. It has been 8 years since publication of the first issue of Clinics in Laboratory Medicine: Point-of-Care Testing. Over this interval, a number of developments have occurred in the applications and practice of POCT. Major trends in the evolution of POCT include: (Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - August 31, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Kent Lewandrowski Source Type: journals

Forthcoming issuesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - August 31, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Source Type: journals

ContentsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - August 31, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Source Type: journals

IndexEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - May 31, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Source Type: journals

Global Hemostasis Testing Thromboelastography: Old Technology, New ApplicationsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Thromboelastography (TEG) as a method of assessing global hemostatic and fibrinolytic function has existed for more than 60 years. Improvements in TEG technology have led to increased reliability and thus increased usage. The TEG has been used primarily in the settings of liver transplant and cardiac surgery, with proven utility for monitoring hemostatic and fibrinolytic derangements. In recent years, indications for TEG testing have expanded to include managing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy, assessing bleeding of unclear etiology, and assessing hypercoagulable states. In addition, TEG platelet mapping...
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - May 31, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Alice Chen, Jun Teruya Source Type: journals

Molecular Diagnostics in Hemostatic DisordersEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The use of molecular diagnostic techniques in clinical and research hemostasis laboratories is increasing as genetic factors that affect the procoagulant and anticoagulant systems are identified. Many of these molecular alterations are associated with thrombotic tendencies, whereas others tip the hemostatic balance in favor of bleeding. In either scenario, molecular testing may serve as a primary diagnostic modality or may provide information that complements clot-based “functional” assays. The clinical application of DNA-based testing continues to expand since the discoveries of the factor V Leiden and prothrombin G20...
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - May 31, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Peter L. Perrotta, Annika M. Svensson Source Type: journals

Laboratory Evaluation of HypercoagulabilityEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This discussion considers several important hypercoagulable states that predispose patients to venous, and in some instances, arterial thrombosis, focusing on activated protein C resistance/factor V Leiden, prothrombin G20210A, deficiencies of protein C, protein S or antithrombin, and antiphospholipid antibodies. The discussion includes the incidence of each hypercoagulable condition, the magnitude of the thrombotic risk it poses and synergistic interactions among the various hypercoagulable conditions. Salient advances in understanding the molecular pathogenesis of each condition are presented and discussed in the context...
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - May 31, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Bernard Khor, Elizabeth M. Van Cott Source Type: journals

Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura and Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia: Two Unique Causes of Life-Threatening ThrombocytopeniaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Much has been learned about thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) and much remains a diagnostic and management challenge. While the pentad of thrombocytopenia, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, fever, and renal and neurologic abnormalities characterize the clinical presentation of TTP, few patients present with all signs and symptoms. Worse yet, the pentad and its components are seen in other so-called thrombotic microangiopathies that demand different treatment approaches. HIT is another systemic disorder presenting with thrombocytopenia and/or thrombosis with potential deva...
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - May 31, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Marisa B. Marques Source Type: journals

Antiphospholipid Syndrome ReviewEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This article reviews the evolution of APS from the first description of lupus anticoagulant to the current criteria used to guide clinical research, critiques laboratory methods used to identify autoantibodies, comments on prognosis and management, and summarizes insights into the pathophysiology of this elusive disorder. (Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - May 31, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Charles Eby Source Type: journals

Anticoagulation MonitoringEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This article reviews the commonly used anticoagulants (warfarin and heparin) and associated recommended laboratory testing. Emphasis is on the various modes of International Normalized Ratio testing and associated variability (clinical laboratory, point of care, patient self-testing). Unfractionated heparin and well-recognized coagulation testing issues are reviewed. The newer anticoagulants (heparin analogs, direct factor Xa inhibitors, and direct thrombin inhibitors) and various applied coagulation laboratory testing and related issues are also discussed. (Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - May 31, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Valerie L. Ng Source Type: journals

Liver Disease, Coagulation Testing, and HemostasisEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This article reviews the variety of coagulation testing abnormalities identified and the evidence demonstrating their lack of correlation with hemostasis and inability to predict bleeding for patients with liver disease. The article discusses the historical and incorrect evolution of the commonly used “1.5×” prothrombin time/international normalized ratio “threshold” for fresh frozen plasma/frozen plasma (FFP/FP) administration. Finally, this article reviews why FFP/FP cannot correct minimally prolonged clotting times in patients with liver disease, nor provide adequate prophylaxis against bleeding from percutaneo...
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - May 31, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Valerie L. Ng Source Type: journals

Prothrombin Time and Partial Thromboplastin Time Assay ConsiderationsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Prothrombin times and activated partial thromboplastin times have long been used as tests of overall (“global”) clotting function. Laboratory coagulation testing issues should be at the forefront of the reader's consciousness whenever critically evaluating and extrapolating published study conclusions reliant on the results of these tests. Thus, this article reviews laboratory issues and known variables influencing prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time results and international normalized ratio determinations. (Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - May 31, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Valerie L. Ng Source Type: journals

The Laboratory Approach to Inherited and Acquired Coagulation Factor DeficienciesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Besides the long-recognized hemophilias, there are many other factor deficiencies. Some also are inherited, but others are acquired because of both immune and nonimmune etiologies. Understanding the optimal laboratory approach to evaluating factor deficiency will aid physicians and laboratory scientists in obtaining a prompt diagnosis and in avoiding pitfalls in coagulation testing. (Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - May 31, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Benjamin L. Wagenman, Kelly T. Townsend, Prasad Mathew, Kendall P. Crookston Source Type: journals

Laboratory Testing for von Willebrand Disease: Toward a Mechanism-Based ClassificationEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The heterogeneity of von Willebrand disease reflects the varied roles of von Willebrand factor in coagulation. Significant challenges remain in the detection, classification, and determination of bleeding risk in disorders related to von Willebrand factor. A clearer understanding of the specific disease mechanisms is essential to the development of improved methods for prognosis and management in this and other conditions with abnormalities of the von Willebrand factor system. (Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - May 31, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Richard Torres, Yuri Fedoriw Source Type: journals

Platelet-Related Bleeding: An Update on Diagnostic Modalities and Therapeutic OptionsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This article: (1) provides an overview of the current methods of platelet function testing, with a particular emphasis on recently developed “point-of-care” tests, (2) reviews evidencebased transfusion “triggers” and provides an update on new developments in platelet component therapy, and (3) outlines those initial studies that have demonstrated how point-of-care platelet function testing has helped lead to the development of targeted transfusion strategies for the acutely bleeding patient. (Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - May 31, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Marie E. Peddinghaus, Christopher A. Tormey Source Type: journals

Physiology of Hemostasis: With Relevance to Current and Future Laboratory TestingEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This article briefly details the physiologic and interdependent mechanisms of vascular hemostasis, with an eye toward how the laboratory can assist in diagnosing and maintaining the balance of procoagulant and anticoagulant functions. These functions include determining characteristics of the blood vessel wall, platelet components and receptor-ligand interactions critical for hemostasis, the regulation of thrombin generation and its effects, and the complex fibrinolytic pathways that complete the coagulation cascade. (Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - May 31, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Nancy Kriz, Christine S. Rinder, Henry M. Rinder Source Type: journals

PrefaceEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Physiologic hemostasis is maintained by a delicate balance of procoagulant and anticoagulant influences in blood and blood vessels. This physiologic balance is most apparent clinically in small blood vessels, which must simultaneously maintain both liquid blood flow and the structural integrity of the vasculature. Bleeding in larger vessels can be managed operatively, but small-vessel bleeding requires local enhancement of clot formation, while simultaneously preserving organ perfusion. At the other end of the coagulation spectrum is the patient in whom prothrombotic factors predominate, leading to pathologic thrombosis; s...
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - May 31, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Henry M. Rinder Source Type: journals

Forthcoming issuesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - May 31, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Source Type: journals

ContentsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - May 31, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Source Type: journals

Stability of selected serum proteins after long-term storage in the Janus Serum Bank.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: The findings showed that long-term storage can introduce a considerable bias for vulnerable components. Clin Chem Lab Med 2009;47. PMID: 19290843 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - March 17, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Gislefoss RE, Grimsrud TK, Mørkrid L Tags: Clin Chem Lab Med Source Type: journals

Determination of branched chain amino acids, methionine, phenylalanine, tyrosine and alpha-keto acids in plasma and dried blood samples using HPLC with fluorescence detection.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: We have developed simple, rapid and selective HPLC methods with fluorescence detection for the determination of BCAA, Met, Phe, Tyr and BCKA in plasma and dried blood samples. Clin Chem Lab Med 2009;47. PMID: 19290779 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - March 16, 2009 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Kand'ár R, Záková P, Jirošová J, Sladká M Tags: Clin Chem Lab Med Source Type: journals