INTRODUCTION:
The special procedures section receives an average of 75 specimens a day. These are divided into the following categories:
· �Routine Coagulation,� encompassing prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time, and fibrin split products.
· �Special coagulation,� including clotting factor assays, tests for hypercoagulable states, APC resistance, natural anticoagulant, lupus anticoagulant, and others.
· �Special hematology� including platelet aggregation, hemoglobin fractionation, osmotic fragility, HAM test, and related tests.
· HLA serologic typing for class I and class II and confirmation by DNA typing for class II.
· Flow cytometry for the phenotyping of leukemia and lymphoma, CD34 quantitation, T-cell subsets, and immunodeficiency evaluation.
Areas of special interest and strength have been in the consistent correlation of blood and bone marrow morphology with flow cytometry phenotyping in the final diagnosis of hematological neoplasms. We have a long term interest in increasing the consultation service in hemostasis and hypercoagulable disorders. Residents are encouraged to learn hand on testing and to actively become involved in the interpretation of multiple results and its clinical correlation and to help in establishing new procedures.