Diagnosis of Blood Clots

Diagnosis of Blood Clots

Imaging studies and blood tests help in the diagnosis of blood clots.

After obtaining a complete patient history and examining the patient, some tests may be used to diagnose the presence of a blood clot, and to find out its cause and detect associated complications.

Tests used in the diagnosis of blood clot are:

• Blood tests: These include:
• Complete blood count and platelet level.

• Measurement of lipid levels in the blood like total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides.
• Other tests like lipoprotein (a) and fasting homocysteine levels, which show if a person is prone to plaque formation in the arteries, and HbA1c levels, which indicates diabetes control.
• Tests that could diagnose increased clotting of blood like prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). Additional tests may include anticardiolipin antibody (ACA) or beta-2 glycoprotein, lupus anticoagulants (LA) and heparin antibodies.
• Tests to identify genetic defects like factor V-Leiden and factor II (prothrombin) G-20210A.
• Imaging studies: Imaging studies that help to locate the clot are:
• Computed Tomography CT scan

• Ultrasonography
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging studies (MRI)
• Echocardiogram and electrocardiogram (ECG)– to detect a clot in the heart
• Angiograms and Venograms
• Chest X–Ray