25/08/2025
🩸 Understanding Coagulation & Related Blood Tests: FBC, PT, APTT, and Fibrinogen 🩸
Blood clotting (coagulation) is a vital process that helps prevent excessive bleeding when we're injured. Several blood tests can assess how well this process is working and identify any risks of bleeding or clotting issues. Here's a breakdown of some key tests:
🔬 FBC (Full Blood Count)
This routine blood test measures different components of your blood, including red cells, white cells, and platelets. Platelets play a crucial role in clot formation—low or abnormal platelet counts may indicate a clotting disorder.
⏱ Prothrombin Time (PT)
PT measures how long it takes for your blood to clot. It helps diagnose bleeding problems and is often used to monitor patients on blood-thinning medication (e.g., warfarin).
🩻 Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT)
APTT is used to investigate unexplained bleeding or clotting (thrombosis) and is also commonly tested before surgery to assess the risk of excessive bleeding.
🧬 Fibrinogen Test
Fibrinogen is a protein essential for blood clotting. Low fibrinogen levels can increase the risk of bleeding, while high levels may be linked to clotting disorders or inflammation.
✅ These tests are essential tools for evaluating clotting function, especially before surgical procedures or in patients with symptoms like easy bruising, prolonged bleeding, or unexplained blood clots.
If you're scheduled for surgery or experiencing unusual bleeding or bruising, talk to your healthcare provider about these important tests.
If you’ve noticed:
✅ Frequent nosebleeds
✅ Easy bruising
✅ Heavy or prolonged periods
✅ Bleeding gums
✅ Unexplained blood clots or swelling
…it may be a sign of an underlying bleeding or clotting disorder.
