What are blood coagulation examinations?
More tests will be needed if a patient is found to be suffering from a blood coagulation disorder so that either their blood doesn’t clot properly, or if it clots too well. When a vein is damaged, usually a little blood clot will form on the inside. This clot is made of blood platelets and proteins from the blood plasma (called the coagulation factors). A person will bleed more than normal if they have a low number of blood platelets, if there is a lack of coagulation factors, or if they don’t work. If the bleeding disorder is caused by problems with the coagulation factors more tests will be needed. Sometimes a coagulation disorder is passed on in the family, but it could also be due to a liver problem, as the liver makes many of the blood clotting factors. Coagulation tests will be performed regularly for people who are on blood thinning medicines such as warfarin. Doctors will change the dose of these medicines depending on the test results.
