Bloody Minded

The Bethesda Assay has been tormenting haematology trainees since well before Fallout or Skyrim. Uncover its secrets in this episode and you'll be sorting acquired haemophilia faster than you can say Fus Ro Dah 

Timestamps:
01:50 - Bethesda Assay Intro
05:17 - How it works (and Bethesda Units)
10:25 - Nijmegen modification & dealing with Emicizumab
13:48 - Bethesda Assay summary for Exams
18:55 - Clinical Relevance

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Check out show notes, additional references and (sometimes) extra content at www.bloodyminded.com.au

One step, two step, red step, blue step! Get stuck in to assessing factor levels in this episode looking at the differences between one and two step factor assays, the basis of chromogenic testing and how to resolve discrepancies between different methods. 

Timestamps:
01:33 Intro to Factor Assays
04:33 One-Stage Assays
09:33 Historical Diversion - What's an IU?
15:28 Factor VIII levels
17:15 Two-Stage Assays
21:31 Resolving Discrepancies
25:24 FXIII Assays
32:32 Summary

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Check out show notes, additional references and (sometimes) extra content at www.bloodyminded.com.au

Finding your coagulation knowledge "LAC-ing"? Do you also hate things that were named terribly and thrive on pedantry? This week we pop the hood on that most mysterious of lab tests - the lupus anticoagulant. Listen to this episode again in 12 weeks time for an authentic lupus anticoagulant experience. 

Timestamps:
02:10 - Introducing the LAC
04:47 - What's in a name - nomenclature issues
07:06 - LACs and the APTT
11:31 - Testing for Lupus Anticoagulants
16:55 - LAC testing and anticoagulation
18:15 - Short Pre-Exam Cram Summary
20:10 - Hexagons are Bestagons
22:44 - Clinical Segue
28:00 - Some clinical features of APLS
31:51 - Episode Summary

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Check out show notes, additional references and (sometimes) extra content at www.bloodyminded.com.au

To infinXa and beyond! Let go of your veXation and eXalt our eXacting approach to coagulation testing. You'll know eXactly what you need for your eXams as long as they ask you about anti-Xa testing, thrombin times, fibrinogen and absolutely nothing else. 

Timestamps
0:00 - Introductions
2:40 - Thombin Time - Lab
5:45 - Thrombin Time - Clinical
9:24 - Thrombin Time - Variants
11:06 - Anti-Xa Intro
14:53 - Anti-Xa - Lab
19:04 - Anti-Xa - Clinical
25:21 - Santa-Clauss (Fibrinogen)
30:20 - Cases

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Check out show notes, additional references and (sometimes) extra content at www.bloodyminded.com.au

 Being alone can be difficult - and we would know! How should we think about a long aPTT when the rest of the coag screen looks normal? Join Bloody Minded crew as we learn how to tackle this surprisingly common (and surprisingly tricky) problem.

Timestamps
00:00 - Introductions
02:21 - aPTT Revision
03:59 - A case
08:04 - Testing for heparins
10:10 - Back to the case
11:10 - DOACs and the aPTT
12:34 - Mid Episode Recap
13:32 - What if not heparin?
16:56 - Mixing studies
21:11 - PT Mixing
23:01 - Case returns
24:17 - Summary

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Check out show notes, additional references and (sometimes) extra content at www.bloodyminded.com.au

 “Have you not done tormenting me with your accursed time?“ Senior scientists Vladimir and Estragon are waiting quite a while for a clot to form in their tube. How should you react to prolonged clotting times? We cover an approach to prolonged PT and aPTT, as well as discuss the mechanism of common anticoagulants and their impact on these basic tests.  

Timestamps
00:00 - Intro
01:22 - Episode 2 Recap 
03:13 - Why clotting times prolong 
05:38 - Short clotting times 
07:00 - Platelets and clotting times
08:00 - Introduction to Anticoagulants
10:25 - Unfractionated Heparin
17:04 - Low Molecular Weight Heparins
20:20 - Fondaparinux
21:37 - Vitamin K "Inhibitors"
27:55 - Direct Oral Anticoagulants
33:04 - Anticoagulants Recap
34:10 - An approach to long clotting times
35:58 - Cases
45:45 - Takehomes

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Check out show notes, additional references and (sometimes) extra content at www.bloodyminded.com.au

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a JMO in possession of a coagulation tube will underfill it. But why should it matter?! In this episode, we review the principles behind the two most important coagulation screening tests (The PT and the aPTT) as well as follow the journey of that precious citrated sample through the lab. By the end, you’ll know enough to at least feel guilty when you still send that half filled tube down the chute at 3am

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introductions
01:40 - Clinical Case
03:29 - Development of coagulation testing
06:05 - Why you need to fill the tube
09:40 - Removing platelets
13:30 - Coagulation Profile and the INR
14:51 - The PT
20:32 - The aPTT
27:00 - Summary

31/5/25 - Just a note that we remastered the audio so this episode sounds much more in line with our current ones - the content hasn't changed however 

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Check out show notes, additional references and (sometimes) extra content at www.bloodyminded.com.au

Surely it's just clot or no clot right? Join your intrepid guides Nick, Cale and Bashar as we help you master the med school coagulation cascade and its relevance (or lack of) to laboratory testing of haemostasis. 

Wait what’s that? Everything you’ve been taught so far is an irrelevant lie? Bring yourself up to speed with the cellular model of coagulation and learn what really happens to make that clot appear

Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction to Bloody Minded Podcast 
02:57 - Episode Introduction
03:40 - What's the point?
04:35 - The coagulation cascade
07:00 - Common pathway
13:25 - Factor 13
14:10 - Extrinsic pathway
18:39 - Intrinsic pathway
23:58 - Why the classical model is broken
26:08 - Cellular model of coagulation
30:22 - Summary 

31/5/25 - Just a note that we remastered the audio so this episode sounds much more in line with our current ones - the content hasn't changed however

Support the show

Check out show notes, additional references and (sometimes) extra content at www.bloodyminded.com.au

Optional Introductions - Skip to Episode 1 if you're after content

We're excited to launch Bloody Minded - a haematology podcast for those who want an extra little drop of knowledge no matter where you are in your medical journey. Learn a little bit about your hosts and how we'll be formatting this show

Support the show

Check out show notes, additional references and (sometimes) extra content at www.bloodyminded.com.au