Coagulation Panel
Clotting prevents you from bleeding excessively from a simple injury because if you cut yourself blood coagulates–though each body’s ability to do so varies. However, when this goes wrong a clot in the bloodstream can travel to the lungs, heart, or brain, causing potentially fatal heart attacks or strokes.
Therefore, by measuring coagulation factors in a person’s blood, a doctor can determine the likelihood of clot-related health risks. This includes both the possibility of bleeding excessively from a simple wound and clotting internally.
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What Is A Coagulation Panael?
A coagulation panel test assesses an individual’s coagulation factors to determine their risk for clot-related conditions. Conditions that raise an individual’s risk for clotting disorders include:
- Thrombophilia and hemophilia, which are diagnosable clotting disorders
- Taking anticoagulants, also known as blood thinners, such as heparin, warfarin, and even aspirin
- Liver disease
- Vitamin K deficiency
Why Would My Doctor Order This Test?
There are several coagulation panel tests that your doctor could order if they suspect you might have a condition that affects clotting. These include:
Protein Tests
Proteins produced by your liver can affect the clotting process. When these proteins are not present in the correct amounts, they can lead to or indicate problems with clotting.
Complete Blood Count Test
A CBC or Complete Blood Count Test is a common test ordered with routine blood panels. It can detect many common disorders, including conditions that affect clotting like anemia and low platelets. It does this by measuring the presence of three types of blood cells: white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.
The proteins most often tested include:
- Factor V, is a protein that converts prothrombin to thrombin, and is a necessary part of the clotting process.
- Fibrinogen, is a protein that can cause bleeding or hemorrhages when present in abnormal amounts
- Thrombin, is an enzyme that determines the effectiveness of fibrinogen
- Prothrombin, is a protein assessed by using the prothrombin time test or PT test–which tests the time it takes for your blood to form a clot. Abnormal results (much shorter or longer than 30 seconds) may indicate various conditions. The test is often used to monitor clotting in patients who take blood thinners like warfarin for other conditions.
Platelet test
Platelets are blood cells that assist in clotting. An abnormal platelet count caused by medications, chemotherapy, celiac disease, genetics, can be a serious coagulation factor.
How Can I Prepare For The Test?
Regardless of the type of test, coagulation tests are performed by taking a blood sample, much like any blood test. Since these tests are used to diagnose or detect clotting disorders, your doctor will need to know all the medications you’ve been taking to determine if any of them may affect your ability to clot or the results of the tests.
When Should I Get A Coagulation Panel Test
A blood coagulation panel tests for certain factors that indicate a clotting disorder in the presence of one of the above conditions or other common symptoms of bleeding disorders. These symptoms include:
- Bruising Easily
- Chronic Swelling
- Chronic Stiffness
- Persistent Pain
- Excessive Bleeding
- Unexplained Blood Clots
What Else Do I Need To Know?
*This content is for informational purposes only and is not meant to replace consulting with a healthcare professional. Please consult with your primary care physician or healthcare provider before engaging in any services offered by Speedy Sticks.