American journal of clinical pathology
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Am. J. Clin. Pathol. · Feb 2015
Comparative StudyLaboratory measurements of the oral direct factor Xa inhibitor edoxaban: comparison of prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and thrombin generation assay.
Edoxaban, an oral direct factor Xa inhibitor, does not require routine monitoring. However, assessment of the anticoagulant effects may be required in certain situations. ⋯ PT had disadvantages of a large variability among different PT reagents. aPTT could be used as a conventional and convenient test with a smaller variation among reagents. Thrombin generation was the most sensitive assay.
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Am. J. Clin. Pathol. · Feb 2015
A hybrid approach to urine drug testing using high-resolution mass spectrometry and select immunoassays.
The major objective of this research was to propose a simplified approach for the evaluation of medication adherence in chronic pain management patients, using liquid chromatography time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry, performed in parallel with select homogeneous enzyme immunoassays (HEIAs). We called it a "hybrid" approach to urine drug testing. ⋯ The hybrid approach to urine drug testing provides a simplified and analytically specific testing process that minimizes the need for secondary confirmation.
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Am. J. Clin. Pathol. · Feb 2015
Adequacy of core needle biopsy specimens and fine-needle aspirates for molecular testing of lung adenocarcinomas.
Molecular testing of lung adenocarcinomas for epidermal growth factor (EGFR) mutations and an anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) translocation is important to guide directed therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The goal of this study was to determine whether transthoracic computed tomography-guided core needle biopsy (CNB) and fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy specimens were equally suitable for molecular testing. ⋯ When paraffin-embedded tissue is used for molecular testing of lung cancer, CNB specimens are more likely than FNA specimens to provide adequate tissue for molecular testing. Obtaining a sufficient FNA specimen depends on the tumor size and the individual performing the biopsy.