Bleeding Lab Values

Question 1

Normal Bleeding Time

Answer 1

3-7 minutes

Question 2

Bleeding Time

(What does this measure?)

Answer 2

• Measures the platelet function, adhesion, aggregation
• not considered a routine test
• modest prolongations do not predict surgical bleeding
• altered by aspirin and NSAIDs

Question 3

Normal platelet count

Answer 3

150,000-350,000 mm³

Question 4

What platelet level would be considered thrombocytopenic?

Answer 4

< 100,000 mm³

Question 5

What platelet level would be considered a surgical risk?

Answer 5

< 50,000 mm³

Question 6

What platelet level would cause spontaneous bleeding?

Answer 6

<20,000 mm³

Question 7

What is an average PT?

Answer 7

(Prothrombin time)

12-14 seconds

Question 8

PT can be prolonged with ___.

Answer 8

Extrinsic pathway disorder

common pathway disorder

Question 9

PT can be altered by ___.

Answer 9

Coumadin derivatives

Question 10

What is an average aPTT level?

Answer 10

(activated partial thromboplastin time)

average: 25-32 seconds

Question 11

aPTT can be prolonged with ___.

Answer 11

intrinsic pathway disorder

common pathway disorder

Question 12

aPTT can be altered by ____

Answer 12

heparin and lovenox

Question 13

What is thrombin time?

Answer 13

looks at the common pathway

Measures fibrinogen to fibrin reaction

Question 14

Normal thrombin time?

Answer 14

8-12 seconds

Question 15

What is activated clotting time (ACT) useful for?

Answer 15

Guides anticoagulation dosing

Question 16

What is a normal activated clotting time (ACT)?

Answer 16

80-150 seconds

Question 17

What is a normal fibrinogen level?

Answer 17

> 150 mg/dL

(usually around 200-350 mg/dL)

Question 18

Normal value for fibrinogen degradation products?

Answer 18

<10 mcg/ml

Question 19

What does fibrinogen degredation product level measure?

Answer 19

Measures degredation by-products from clot dissolution

Question 20

What does D-Dimer measure?

Answer 20

Measures degredation products secondary to fibrinolysis

Question 21

What is a normal D-Dimer?

Answer 21

<500 mg/ml

Question 22

What does Antithrombin III level measure?

Answer 22

Antithrombin III levels

A decreased level may indicate subtherapeutic heparin

It’s severely depressed in DIC