Are there any screening tests that can be used in the veterinary clinic to evaluate coagulation?
Yes. The most commonly performed test is the evaluation of platelet numbers. Platelets are blood cells that are involved in the formation of platelet ’plugs’ at the site of blood vessel injury. Platelets not only provide the initial ’patch’ at injured sites, they also form a framework that allows coagulation factors to accumulate at the injured site and subsequently form a more permanent fibrin clot. Platelet numbers can be determined readily, with only a single blood sample needed; this is usually done as part of a routine complete blood count (CBC) that also evaluates the red blood cell and white blood cell components of blood. A marked decrease in total platelet numbers (termed thrombocytopenia) may result in episodes of bleeding. There are many causes of thrombocytopenia, including immune-mediated disease, bone marrow disorders, and infectious causes, among others. While changes in the red and white blood cells do not provide specific information about coagulation, these parameters
