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Go directly to the lab, no extra fees
With friendly doctor's notes & guidance
Lab visit as quick as 10 mins in & out
We stand behind our service
Go directly to the lab, no extra fees
With friendly doctor's notes & guidance
Lab visit as quick as 10 mins in & out
This test is ideal if you're on blood thinners like warfarin or heparin and need to monitor how well they're working. It also helps if you've experienced unexplained bruising, prolonged bleeding, or have a family history of bleeding disorders. Many people use this test to ensure their blood is clotting properly before surgery or to diagnose potential clotting issues.
No fasting is needed for this test, making it convenient to schedule at any time of day. You can eat and drink normally before your blood draw. However, if you're taking blood thinners, continue taking them as prescribed unless your doctor specifically instructs otherwise, since the test is designed to measure how the medication is affecting your clotting time.
This test evaluates two key aspects of your blood's clotting ability. PT (Prothrombin Time) and INR measure how long it takes your blood to clot through the extrinsic pathway, which is crucial for monitoring warfarin therapy and detecting clotting factor deficiencies. PTT (Partial Thromboplastin Time) assesses the intrinsic clotting pathway and is used to monitor heparin therapy and diagnose inherited bleeding disorders. Together, these measurements provide a complete picture of your coagulation system and help ensure your blood thinner medication is working safely and effectively.
What this means
Your INR is slightly elevated above the typical therapeutic range for most conditions. This means your blood is taking longer to clot than ideal, which increases your risk of bleeding. While this may simply require a warfarin dosage adjustment, it's important to follow up with your healthcare provider to ensure safe anticoagulation.
Recommended actions
Contact your doctor or anticoagulation clinic promptly to discuss dosage adjustment
Avoid activities with high risk of injury or trauma until INR is stabilized
Be consistent with vitamin K intake (leafy greens) as fluctuations can affect INR
Retest INR within 3-7 days after any medication adjustment