APTT Test (Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time) in Madurai

It should be measured to investigate a bleeding or thrombotic episode. It helps evaluate the risk of excessive bleeding prior to a surgical procedure. Also, to monitor heparin anticoagulant therapy.

Your health practitioner may recommend this test for you if you show symptoms of prolonged and excessive bleeding which includes:

• Frequent nosebleeds
• Blood in urine
• Heavy menstruation for women
• Painful and swollen joints
• Easy bruising

The activated partial thromboplastin time is a functional measure of the intrinsic and usual pathways of the clotting cascade. To form blood clots, to seal off injuries, to blood vessels and tissue, to restrict further blood loss, and to give the damaged areas time to seal the body using the coagulation cascade. The cascade contains a group of clotting factors. These proteins are activated serially along either the extrinsic or intrinsic pathways.

The branches then come together into the common pathway, and complete their task with the formation of a steady blood clot. These three pathways have to work when a person starts bleeding. Each component of the coagulation cascade must be working properly and be present in enough quantity for normal blood formation. Stable clot formation will be inhibited and excessive bleeding and/or clotting may occur if there is an inherited or assimilated deficiency in one or more of the factors, or if the factors are functioning unusually. The test measures the amount of time that it takes for clotting to happen when reagents are added to plasma in a test tube.