Why is clotting time important

The bleeding time and clot time is checked using a timer. Every 30 seconds the blood from the cuts is blotted with blotting paper till the bleeding stops. Once the procedure is completed the cuts are bandaged. A little bleeding will occur since the test is done to check on the bleeding. The risk of excessive bleeding is low, and there may be minor risks such as pain or inflammation at the site of the cut on the arm.

The bleeding time test may be affected by medications that are used by the person. There are several medications that may act as anticoagulants and affect the time taken for bleeding and clotting. Hence if the person is on any medication or supplement or herbs, this should be immediately informed to the doctor. Also, a diet full of green and leafy vegetables may affect the clotting time. If the person has very low platelet count, then the BT test should not be done on the person.

Also, people on anticoagulants or who have lymph nodes dissected should not undergo the BT test. The scars that are made for the BT test remain visible for a long time in people who tend to have keloids.

Before the test, it is important to inform the doctor of any medications that the person is on and also any over the counter drugs that the person may be consuming. Even if there are any vitamins that a person is taking should be informed to the doctor. It is to be noted that medicines such as aspirin affect blood clotting. Our Services Covid Care. Critical Care. Lab Tests. Clotting disorders can cause a dangerous amount of bleeding or clotting.

If your doctor suspects you have a clotting disorder, they may recommend one or more coagulation tests. These tests measure various proteins and how they function. Coagulation tests are useful in monitoring people who take medications that affect clotting ability. Coagulation tests are also sometimes recommended before surgery. There are many types of coagulation tests. The sections below include explanations of several of them.

Your doctor may order a complete blood count CBC as part of your routine physical. The results of the test can alert your doctor if you have anemia or a low platelet count, which can interfere with your ability to clot. This test measures Factor V , a substance involved in clotting. An abnormally low level may be indicative of liver disease, primary fibrinolysis a breakdown of clots , or disseminated intravascular coagulation DIC.

Fibrinogen is a protein made by your liver. This test measures how much fibrinogen is in your blood. Abnormal results may be a sign of excessive bleeding or hemorrhage , fibrinolysis, or placental abruption , which is a separation of the placenta from the uterine wall. Prothrombin is another protein your liver produces.

The prothrombin time PT test measures how well and how long it takes your blood to clot. It normally takes about 25 to 30 seconds. It may take longer if you take blood thinners. Other reasons for abnormal results include hemophilia , liver disease, and malabsorption. Read more: Prothrombin time test ». Subscribe for Updates. Editorial Policy. Learn more. Cite this page. Topic Name. Message If ARUP Consult does not answer your test selection and interpretation questions, or if you would like to suggest ways to improve content or usability, please send a message to the Consult editorial staff.

ARUP will only use your email address to respond to your feedback. See the ARUP privacy policy for more information regarding email use. Leave this field blank. Quick Answers for Clinicians Which laboratory tests should be used for the workup of prolonged clotting times? What factors can affect coagulation test results? Laboratory Testing Initial Testing Obtaining a CBC with platelet count may be useful eg, to help identify or exclude quantitative platelet abnormalities.

Condition-Specific Testing Condition-specific testing is preferred in cases of a known coagulation disorder or strong clinical suspicion for a particular disorder. In patients with a thrombotic presentation, consider lupus anticoagulant testing. Prolonged Clot Time Reflex Panel Prothrombin Time Partial Thromboplastin Time Your lab report should show the range that your lab uses for each test.

The normal range is just a guide. Your doctor will also look at your results based on your age, health, and other factors. A value that isn't in the normal range may still be normal for you.

A method of standardizing prothrombin time results, called the international normalized ratio INR system, has been developed so the results among labs using different test methods can be understood in the same way. Using the INR system, treatment with warfarin Coumadin will be the same. The warfarin dose is changed so that the prothrombin time is longer than normal by about 1. Prothrombin times are also kept at longer times for people with artificial heart valves, because these valves have a high chance of causing clots to form.

Gabica MD - Family Medicine. Author: Healthwise Staff. Medical Review: E. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise.