{"title":"Taking the 'HIT' (Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia) - Balancing Local Testing with Delayed Central Results.","authors":"D Daly, N Fleming, B Murphy, M P Crowley","doi":"","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>To evaluate the frequency, turnaround time (TAT), and outcomes of Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia testing referrals from Cork University Hospital (CUH) and assess whether local specialised testing is justified.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Retrospective review of HIT referral forms and laboratory records (2021-2022). Data collected included demographics, referring specialty, platelet nadir, 4Ts score, HIT assay results, and TAT.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Ninety-three patients were referred; 73 had complete data. Median TAT was 6 days (mean 31.9 days; adjusted mean 8.8 days after excluding six extreme outliers). Mean age was 66 years, 53% post-cardiothoracic surgery, mean 4Ts score 4.9. Three patients (4.1%) tested positive. Twenty-three (31.5%) had severe thrombocytopenia (<50 ×10⁹/L).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>HIT testing referrals are frequent but delayed. Local in-house testing could improve patient safety, reduce unnecessary use of costly anticoagulants, and support timely clinical decision-making.</p>","PeriodicalId":14713,"journal":{"name":"Irish medical journal","volume":"119 5","pages":"78"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0000,"publicationDate":"2026-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Irish medical journal","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"Medicine","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Aim: To evaluate the frequency, turnaround time (TAT), and outcomes of Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia testing referrals from Cork University Hospital (CUH) and assess whether local specialised testing is justified.
Methods: Retrospective review of HIT referral forms and laboratory records (2021-2022). Data collected included demographics, referring specialty, platelet nadir, 4Ts score, HIT assay results, and TAT.
Results: Ninety-three patients were referred; 73 had complete data. Median TAT was 6 days (mean 31.9 days; adjusted mean 8.8 days after excluding six extreme outliers). Mean age was 66 years, 53% post-cardiothoracic surgery, mean 4Ts score 4.9. Three patients (4.1%) tested positive. Twenty-three (31.5%) had severe thrombocytopenia (<50 ×10⁹/L).
Conclusion: HIT testing referrals are frequent but delayed. Local in-house testing could improve patient safety, reduce unnecessary use of costly anticoagulants, and support timely clinical decision-making.
期刊介绍：
Since its inception in 1867, the Journal of the Medical Association of Ireland and now in its present format, the Irish Medical Journal, has provided the medical community in Ireland with an invaluable service. As one of the leading biomedical publications in Ireland, it has sought to continue the education of medical students and postgraduates through scientific research, review articles and updates on contemporary clinical practices while providing an ongoing forum for medical debate. A measure of our stature is that we are listed in the Index Medicus and issued annually with a citation factor from the Institute for Scientific Information.
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