Coagulation update: what's new in hemostasis testing?

The current report provides a personal perspective summarising some interesting recent developments in hemostasis, as well as providing a brief glimpse into some possible imminent changes to come. We briefly review routine coagulation tests, and what changes may take place related to the new emerging anticoagulants. We also briefly review the old and new global tests of hemostasis, including thrombin generation and thromboelastography. Also briefly discussed within the diagnostics of bleeding and thrombotic disorders are the role of microparticles, the rise and fall of thrombophilia testing, the 'disappearance' of fibrinolysis pathway tests, and the absence of tests related to the endothelium, in part reflecting upon Virchow's triad.