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How to Diagnose Bleeding Disorder


Diagnosis of Bleeding Disorders

Bleeding disorder diagnosis is a step-by-step procedure as coagulation involves a cascade of events.

If a person presents with a bleeding episode, the doctor may order for the following tests:

  • Complete Blood count (CBC) - To look out for anemia and to check for the number of platelets. If low a person may have tendency to bleed.
  • Bleeding Time (BT) - Tests the platelet function and is abnormal if prolonged. The most common cause of its prolongation is due to intake of tablet aspirin.
  • Clotting Time (CT) - Prolonged indicates severe deficiency of any of the coagulation proteins.
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  • Prothrombin Time (PT) test - To evaluate the extrinsic and common clotting pathway.
  • Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT) test - To evaluate the intrinsic and common clotting pathways.

If the PT or PTT is prolonged, further testing may be ordered. Some of these are:-

  • Thrombin clotting time
  • Fibrinogen level
  • Fibrinogen Degradation Product
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  • Factor Activity Assay to measure levels of various clotting Factors such as VIII, IX and others like - II, V, VII, X, XI, XII
  • The Thromboelastograph
  • Lupus Anticoagulant
  • Genetic Tests - This can be done for studying the type of hemophilia
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