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.