LABORATORY EVALUATION OF HEMOSTASIS



Basic screening for hemostatic integrity can be accomplished with a prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, platelet count, and bleeding time . If all results from these tests are normal, a serious bleeding diathesis is un­likely. Any abnormalities indicate that further in­vestigation for particular defects should be made. Levels of individual coagulation factors, the pres­ence of circulating anticoagulants, the nature of thrombocytopenia, abnormal platelet function, and signs of intravascular consumption of pro-coagulants can all be assessed.