The Details of PTT Test

How is PTT Test used for?

The complete PTT Test is definitely used for the purpose to primarily investigate the complete unexplained bleeding or even the clotting. It may also be ordered that along with the prothrombin time (PT) test to adequately evaluate hemostasis, the entire process that the body actually uses to form blood clots in order to help stop bleeding. These are definitely the tests that are usually the starting points for every investigating excessive bleeding or even clotting disorders.

Several proteins called the coagulation factors are involved in hemostasis and the complete formation of blood clots. When an injury actually occurs and bleeding begins, some coagulation factors are in fact activated in a sequence of steps (coagulation cascade) that eventually help to form a complete clot. 

The PTT Test is therefore used to indeed evaluate the coagulation factors. By completely evaluating the results of these tests together, a health practitioner can always gain some kind of clues as to what bleeding or even clotting disorder may be present. It is the PTT and PT that are not diagnostic but usually provide information on the fact that whether further tests may be needed.

What does the actual test result mean?

The PTT results are definitely reported in seconds. A PTT result therefore falls within a laboratory's reference interval, which is usually indicative of normal clotting function. However, the aspect of mild to moderate deficiencies of a complete single coagulation factor may be indeed present. The PTT may not be in fact prolonged until the essential factor levels have therefore decreased, to 30% to 40% of normal. Also the lupus anticoagulant may be actually present but may not prolong the PTT result. If the so called lupus anticoagulant (LA) is suspected, then a more sensitive LA-sensitive PTT or even a dilute Russell viper venom time (DRVVT) can be therefore utilized to test for it.

A prolonged PTT definitely means that the clotting is actually taking longer to occur than the simple and the normal aspects and may be indeed due to a variety of causes. Often, this is suggests that there may be some coagulation factor deficiency or as well a specific or nonspecific antibody (inhibitor) affecting the body's complete clotting ability.