S5E7 - Back to basics: the Prothrombin Time assay

Welcome to Ask Stago, The Podcast dedicated to provide expert answers to your expert questions in coagulation.In this “back to basics” mini-series, Dr LaShanta Brice will discuss the clinical utility of the three most common parameters tested in the lab, the PT, aPTT and Fibrinogen.Today, we explore the essential role of fibrinogen testing in hemostasis assessment and patient management. We discuss its key clinical applications in bleeding disorders, DIC, liver disease, trauma, and cardiovascular risk, while highlighting emerging trends, assay limitations, and the critical factors that ensure accurate and reliable results in modern coagulation laboratories.Happy listening!Literature source:CLSI. H30-A2. Procedure for the Determination of Fibrinogen in Plasma Content is scientific and technical in nature. It is intended as an educational tool for laboratory professionals and topics discussed are not intended as recommendations or as commentary on appropriate clinical practice.

Welcome to Ask Stago, The Podcast dedicated to provide expert answers to your expert questions in coagulation.In this “Back to basics” mini-series, Dr LaShanta Brice will discuss the clinical utility of the three most common parameters tested in the lab, the PT, aPTT and Fibrinogen.Today we will cover the aPTT assay, a key coagulation test used to assess intrinsic and common clotting pathways, and review its clinical applications, limitations, pre-analytical considerations, and the importance of selecting the right reagent.Happy listening!Literature source:CLSI H47 One-Stage Prothrombin Time (PT) Test and Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT) Test Content is scientific and technical in nature. It is intended as an educational tool for laboratory professionals and topics discussed are not intended as recommendations or as commentary on appropriate clinical practice.

Welcome to Ask Stago, the podcast dedicated to provide expert answers to your expert questions in coagulation. In today’s episode, our guest Doctor Isabelle Gouin-Thibault will discuss the influence of dextran sulfate in anti-Xa assay. Literature sources: Lasne, D. et al. (2023) Factors Influencing Anti-Xa Assays: A Multicenter Prospective Study in Critically Ill and Noncritically Ill Patients Receiving Unfractionated Heparin. Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 123 (12), 1105. Hardy, M. et al. (2023) Reassessment of dextran sulfate in anti-Xa assay for unfractionated heparin laboratory monitoring. Res Pract Thromb Haemost. 7 (8), 102257   Content is scientific and technical in nature. It is intended as an educational tool for laboratory professionals and topics discussed are not intended as recommendations or as commentary on appropriate clinical practice. 

Welcome to Ask Stago, The Podcast dedicated to provide expert answers to your expert questions in coagulation.In this “back to basics” mini-series, Dr LaShanta Brice will discuss the clinical utility of the three most common parameters tested in the lab, the PT, APTT and Fibrinogen.Today we are going to cover the Prothrombin Time!We will discover why an order for a PT would be received by the lab, generally why the PT is used in practice and some emerging trends particularly when considering the INR clinic.Happy listening!Literature source: CLSI H47 One-Stage Prothrombin Time (PT) Test and Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT) Test  Content is scientific and technical in nature. It is intended as an educational tool for laboratory professionals and topics discussed are not intended as recommendations or as commentary on appropriate clinical practice.

Welcome to Ask Stago, the Podcast dedicated to provide expert answers to your expert questions in coagulation.In today’s episode, Emily Pullen, North America Product Manager, will tell us more about Stago solution to improve lab productivity with the STA Workcell Max.Literature sources:https://www.stago.com/products-services/max-generation-analysers/sta-workcell-max/https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/UTMNVe-iBkY?feature=oembed Content is scientific and technical in nature. It is intended as an educational tool for laboratory professionals and topics discussed are not intended as recommendations or as commentary on appropriate clinical practice.

Welcome to Ask Stago, The Podcast dedicated to provide expert answers to your expert questions in coagulation.In today’s episode, our guest Dr. Refaai  will help us understand the formation and function of fibrin monomers (FM) in hemostasis, highlighting their crucial role in coagulation and clot formation and the need for more prospective studies to validate this assay for clinical indications such as DIC, VTE and cancer.Literature sources:Refaai M.A. (2018) The Clinical Significance of Fibrin Monomers. Thromb Haemost, 118, 1856.Content is scientific and technical in nature. It is intended as an educational tool for laboratory professionals and topics discussed are not intended as recommendations or as commentary on appropriate clinical practice.

Welcome to Ask Stago, the Podcast dedicated to provide expert answers to your expert questions in coagulation. In today’s episode, Anne-Cécile Ortega will further explain what a MyOptiLab audit is — a service offered by Stago that involves a comprehensive workflow study using the Lean Six Sigma methodology. This audit is designed to help laboratories enhance their efficiency by identifying areas for improvement and optimizing processes. Literature sources:Bhat, R., & Wagh, P. (2013). "Application of Six Sigma methodology in clinical diagnostic laboratories: A case study."  International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications*, 3(7), 1-6.  Goh, T. N., & Ang, K. S. (2011). "The application of Lean Six Sigma in healthcare."  International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management*, 28(6), 548-564.  Sundararajan, V., & Sharma, P. (2012). "Lean Six Sigma in the clinical laboratory: Achieving improvement in laboratory processes."  Clinical Laboratory Management Review*, 26(2), 82-89.  Kendall, J., & Jones, D. (2017). "The role of Lean Six Sigma in clinical laboratory testing." American Journal of Clinical Pathology*, 147(3), 298-305.  Sofiya, L., & Mirza, M. (2014). "Enhancing diagnostic laboratory performance through Lean Six Sigma." Journal of Healthcare Engineering*, 2014, Article ID 870376, 10 pages.   Content is scientific and technical in nature. It is intended as an educational tool for laboratory professionals and topics discussed are not intended as recommendations or as commentary on appropriate clinical practice.

Welcome to Ask Stago, The Podcast dedicated to provide expert answers to your expert questions in coagulation.In today’s episode, Karine Carrière  will explain further what are microvesicles, their importance in coagulation and how to analyze them. Literature sources:[Tesselaar et al.], [Lacroix et al.] [Faille et al.] [Mullier et al.] Vallier et al.] . [Nieuwland et al.]Kim HK, Song KS, Park YS, Kang YH, Lw YJ, Lw KR, et al.Elevated levels of circulating platelet microparticles, VEGF, 11-6 andFiANTES in patients Wlth gastrlc cancer. possible mle of a metastasispredlotor. Eur J Cancer 2003;39(2):184-91.Helley D, Banu E, Bouziane A, Banu A, Scotte F, Fiher AM, et al. Platelet microparticles: a potential predictive factor of survival in hormone-reac pmstate cancer patients treated with docetaxel-based chemotherapy. Eur Urnl2009;56(3):479-84.Zwicker JI, Liebman HA, Neuberg D, Lecmix R, Bauer KA, Furie BC, et ai. Tmr-derived tissue factor-bearing microparticles are associated with venous thromboembolic events in malignancy. Clin Cancer Res 2009; 15 (22): 68630-40 Content is scientific and technical in nature. It is intended as an educational tool for laboratory professionals and topics discussed are not intended as recommendations or as commentary on appropriate clinical practice.

Welcome to Ask Stago, the Podcast dedicated to provide expert answers to your expert questions in coagulation.This month we meet Joseph Bautista, is a 37 year old US man living with a rare clotting disorder, a Factor XI deficiency otherwise known as Hemophilia C. His journey so far has not been an easy one but by educating himself and advocating for the best care he is living a full and healthy life working as a data architect in the IT sector. Its an inspiring and reassuring story for anyone facing a rare bleeding disorder diagnosis & proves the importance of patient empowerment. Content is scientific and technical in nature. It is intended as an educational tool for laboratory professionals and topics discussed are not intended as recommendations or as commentary on appropriate clinical practice.

Welcome to Ask Stago, The Podcast dedicated to provide expert answers to your expert questions in coagulation.In today’s episode, our guest Evelyne Escarmant will help us to understand what is behind the recent update of ISO 15189 and what it means for us as manufacturers and indeed the clinical laboratoryLiterature sources: ISO 15189; Medical laboratories – Requirements for quality and competence Content is scientific and technical in nature. It is intended as an educational tool for laboratory professionals and topics discussed are not intended as recommendations or as commentary on appropriate clinical practice.