<qa>  What is the name of the clinically overt disseminated intravascular coagulActivation of the coagulation system occurs early in patients with sepsis, although clinically overt disseminated intravascular coagulation DIC is identified in only a minority of patients with severe sepsis. Uncontrolled activation of the coagulation system may contribute to the pathophysiology of multiple organ failure and the subsequent morbidity and mortality of sepsis. Identification of risk factors predicting progression to severe sepsis and DIC has been elusive. We propose that whole blood and cell-rich coagulation assays will offer improved sensitivity to both the procoagulant and anti-coagulant changes which occur early in sepsis and will improve recognition of non-overt DIC. Future studies will address whether these assays have sufficiently high predictive value to identify subgroups of patients who could benefit from early intervention. 