Clotting in a blood test is normal for women

Few men have the congenital disorder hemophilia, which is inherited. But they are not the only ones who face the problem of blood thickness. Blood is an element of our body on which its health depends. It functions throughout the body and has a specific structure to fulfill its purpose. It should not be too thick or not thick enough. This balance ensures and maintains our health.

What is it and what does it affect?

First you need to know how blood is converted into a dense clot. With any injury to the vascular walls, certain types of proteins are released - fibrins, which are responsible for protective functions. Platelets near the area of ​​damage begin to change their shape, transforming into balls with special processes that fasten the cells to each other. The tissue gap becomes clogged, preventing blood from flowing out of the vessels. The blood becomes cheesy and loses its viscousness.

This mechanism will prevent pathogens from entering the wound. Thus, the coagulation process prevents the loss of the main fluid in the body. This process is called hemostasis. If clotting is poor, the body does not provide sufficient protection, and the likelihood of blood clots is high.

The beginning and process of blood clotting

Blood test for clotting ability - hemostasiogram. The complex biochemical process of fibrin formation. Blood clots in the body make the blood thicker.

Coagulation is regulated by the nervous and endocrine systems, helping to stop bleeding faster. A detailed coagulogram is a complex analysis that includes a special sequence of actions (from blood sampling to exposure to chemicals).

The reliability of the research results requires compliance with the rules before submitting the analysis. Completely give up alcohol within 24 hours, and cigarettes within 2-3 hours. The test should be taken in the morning, before meals, and you are allowed to drink no more than 1 glass of water. The last meal time is 8 hours before.

Note! The patient should remain balanced and calm. If you feel worse, you need to inform the laboratory assistant.

Patients often ask doctors how to test blood clotting at home. If you have a cut, you should check how long it takes for the bleeding to stop. The norm is 5-7 minutes.

General rules for conducting analysis

To ensure reliable results, it is important to follow some rules:

1. Do not smoke before collecting biomaterial for 3-4 hours.
2. Do not drink alcohol the day before.
3. You can drink water. The last time to eat is 8 hours before the test.
4. Don't be nervous before the procedure.

Biomaterial for analysis is taken from a finger or a peripheral vein.

Norm by age table

Blood is a component of the human body. Allows the body to work holistically, it contains information about the functioning of organs and tissues. Constant adaptation to new changing conditions inside the body is realized.

Coagulability plays an important role in the interaction. It shows the possibility of supplying organs with nutrition, transmitting information about the state of organs and tissues.

Normal blood clotting levels depend on the patient’s age.

Age	Norm
15-18 years old	180-340 thousand/µl
18-40 years old	180-360 thousand/µl
40-50 years	It varies depending on the time of day, the period of the menstrual cycle, and the use of medications.
50-60 years	180-320 thousand/µl

Interesting fact! Poor blood clotting tests are much less common in children than in adults.

Indicators that do not correspond to the norm are considered pathological. But sometimes a slight decrease is acceptable.

Duque blood clotting method

A similar procedure using the mentioned method, as well as the two previous ones, should be carried out in the morning on an empty stomach.

The patient's earlobe is pierced with a so-called Frank needle. Every 15-20 seconds, special paper is applied to the puncture site. When there are no more blood stains on it, the study is considered complete. The lower limit of normal clotting time is 60 seconds, the upper limit is 180 seconds.

In addition to these two methods, there are 30 more methods for determining coagulation. Depending on the method, the time ranges from two minutes to half an hour.

All of the above is clearly illustrated by the table:

Analysis name	Indicator norm	What kind of blood is used
platelet level test	in men and women 150-400 g/l	capillary (finger sampling)
in children 150-350 g/l
clotting time	norm according to Sukharev: beginning – 30-120 s; end – between 3 and 5 minutes;	capillary
norm according to Lee-White 5-10 minutes	from a vein
duration of bleeding according to Duque	should not exceed 4 minutes	from the finger
thrombin time (TT)	12-20 seconds	from a vein
prothrombin index	capillary blood 93-107%	finger analysis
(PTI)	venous blood 90-105%	vein analysis
activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)	for all age groups, regardless of gender (35-50 seconds)	venous
fibrinogen	adults 2-4 g/l; in a child’s first days of life 1.25-3.0 g/l	from a vein

Blood can clot during bleeding. When coagulation is impaired, various pathologies develop, for example, when coagulation decreases, bleeding is observed, and when it increases, the risk of thrombosis increases. Therefore, citizens should understand the essence of the clotting test, which we will discuss in more detail in this material.

Time tests

The blood clotting time (BCT) refers to the parameters of hemostasis. Circumstances have been established when it is necessary to know this indicator - during a certain period of life, for certain diseases.

The clotting time is divided into 2 periods:

• Primary hemostasis. Narrowing of the lumen of blood vessels, mechanical formation of a blood clot. Helps prevent large blood losses at the site of injury.
• Secondary hemostasis is coagulation.

According to Sukharev

The test does not require drawing blood from a vein. Blood is taken from a finger - this is enough to obtain capillary biological fluid. The quality of enzymes is examined.

Thanks to Sukharev’s diagnosis, the body’s ability to resist blood loss and other problems with hemostasis is clarified. The analysis also helps to get a general picture of the nervous and endocrine systems.

Identification of clotting time according to Sukharev

The research is carried out as follows:

1. In the morning before donating blood, you cannot eat anything.
2. You can drink plain water without gases.
3. First, the nurse uses a scarifier needle to make a puncture in the finger, squeezing out the required volume of plasma.
4. To check the thickness of the biological fluid, the test tube is first rocked so that the blood flows down the walls. Results are noted according to time. The time of completion of drainage is recorded until the formation of a clot.

The results of determining blood clotting time can be as follows:

1. With normal clotting times, there are no hemostasis diseases.
2. The clotting happened too quickly - there is a high probability of blood clots. An exception is the period of bearing a child, after childbirth, operations, heavy blood loss, severe burns, and some serious illnesses.
3. When clotting does not occur for too long, large blood loss occurs, affecting well-being and threatening life. This happens under the influence of dangerous diseases or during treatment.

Interesting fact! The normal time for blood to begin to clot in good health is 3-5 minutes.

According to Morawitz

This method helps to quickly obtain reliable results.

The intake according to Moravits is carried out on an empty stomach in the morning. The main prohibition is alcohol; you are not allowed to drink 3 days before the test. You should also give up coffee, coffee drinks, and cigarettes within 24 hours.

Plain water is needed by the patient; it increases the accuracy of testing. Many experts advise drinking a glass of water without gases right before the analysis.

The research includes the following steps:

1. Collect blood from a finger and transfer it to a glass slide.
2. Start the stopwatch, then every 30 seconds the blood moves into a glass tube.
3. From the moment the fibrin thread begins to form, the study stops and the time is recorded.

Normally, the result of the time it takes for the blood to clot will be about 3-5 minutes.

According to Duque

Another method for studying hemostasis. Blood is drawn on an empty stomach in the morning. The puncture itself is made in the earlobe with a special Frank needle. Then, every 15 seconds, a piece of paper is applied to the wound, on which traces of blood remain. A clean surface means that the examination time must be stopped.

The norm for stopping bleeding is 1-3 minutes.

Research methods

Blood clotting time is determined scientifically in laboratory conditions by qualified specialists. Capillary plasma, which is taken from the patient’s finger, is suitable for conducting research using Sukharev’s method. It is not recommended to eat food at least 3 hours before the test; alcohol is excluded 2 days before blood sampling. The laboratory container is filled with the sample to the 30 mm mark. The container is then rocked, measuring the time until the sample begins to thicken, that is, the sample begins to coagulate. Blood clotting rates range from 30 seconds to 2 minutes. The period from start to finish of coagulation should be less than 5 minutes.

Morawitz's blood coagulation test also uses capillary plasma. A few hours before taking the sample, food should be excluded; it is recommended to drink a glass of water before the analysis. A sample of the patient's blood is placed on a laboratory glass, and the clotting time is determined using a stopwatch. Every 30 seconds the sample is checked with a glass tube and the time when a fibrin thread appears is the result of the test. The blood clotting time should be 3-5 minutes. This blood clotting rate is normal and means that there is no threat to the patient’s health.

Blood clotting using the Duque method is determined very simply. The laboratory technician pierces the skin on the patient's earlobe using a special needle (Frank needle). The puncture site is blotted with special paper every 15 seconds. When no specks remain on the paper, coagulation is complete. The norms for blood clotting indicators do not exceed 2 minutes.

A period of 60-180 seconds is considered normal.

There are more than 30 types of blood clotting tests. To analyze the sample and determine the norm, the most appropriate method of obtaining the necessary information is used. The speed of the study is from 2 to 30 minutes.

When is it necessary to take an analysis?

When a woman plans to conceive a child, she must take a coagulogram in advance. Establishing a diagnosis will make it possible to carry out treatment that is safe for the unborn child. To obtain accurate results, it is forbidden to take any medications with aspirin or other blood thinners a week before the test, and drinking alcohol is prohibited. Otherwise the result will be erroneous.

The need to determine the degree of blood clotting

Hemostasis control may be required in the following situations:

• When a pregnancy once ended with an unfavorable outcome, fading, the cause could be: infections, problems with the patient’s hormonal levels, coagulation disorders, chromosomal abnormalities.
• Toxicosis of a pregnant woman, complicating the process of bearing a baby. You can suspect it by elevated blood pressure, severe swelling of the arms and legs, and the presence of protein in the urine. In 70% of cases, gestosis is accompanied by a coagulation disorder, so a coagulogram and appropriate treatment are required.
• Increased uterine tone, leading to the threat of miscarriage.
• Placental abruption - this condition develops due to pathological changes in coagulation.
• Women who have relatives with thrombosis, stroke, heart attack, varicose veins.
• In the treatment of infertility, a coagulogram is mandatory, since hormone intake is required. If hemostasis is impaired and hormonal drugs are taken at the same time, the risk of stroke and thrombosis is high.

How to take it

Regardless of the type of study chosen, the rules for preparing for blood sampling are the same.

Plasma is taken in the laboratory immediately after the skin is punctured. Venous blood is obtained from a peripheral vein. A 20 mL sample is required to obtain clotting time data.

Before donation, patients need:

• Refuse to eat food. You can't eat 8-12 hours before.
• Alcohol is prohibited during the day.
• Cigarettes are prohibited 4 hours before.
• 5 minutes before the test you should try to remain calm.

Coagulogram: normal indicators in the table

The analysis requires several complex biochemical reactions. This may take 24 to 48 hours. The work schedule of the medical institution, as well as whether it is a separate laboratory or an intermediary, is also important.

Normal coagulogram values ​​are shown in the table below:

Clotting time
According to Lee-White By Mass and Magro	5-10 minutes; 8-12 minutes.
Bleeding time
According to Duke By Ivy According to Shitikova	2-4 minutes; Up to 8 minutes; Up to 4 minutes;
Analysis indicator	Its designation	Norm
Prothrombin time according to Quick	PV	11-15 sec
INR (International Normalized Ratio)	INR	0,82-1,18
Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time	APTT	22.5-35.5 sec
Activated Recalcification Time	AVR	81-127 sec
Prothrombin index	PTI	73-122%
Thrombin time	TV	14-21 sec
Soluble fibrin-monomer complexes	RFMK	0.355-0.479 units
Antithrombin III	AT III	75,8-125,6%
D-dimer	250.10-500.55 ng/ml
Fibrinogen	2.7-4.013 g

Interpretation of analyzes

Decoding is carried out not individually, but as a whole. An increase or decrease in the time spent on clotting indicates disturbances in the functioning of the circulatory system.

Thromboplastin time is the time during which the body itself is able to stop bleeding through the formation of a blood clot under the influence of calcium chloride. Its increase indicates a decrease in time.

It is important to know! Prothrombin index – extrinsic coagulation pathway. Its increase indicates a decrease in the clotting period and indicates a high risk of blood clots. A decrease in the index indicates a high probability of bleeding.

The volume of fibrinogen is also determined. This is a specific protein that is the main participant in the process of producing a clot. Violation of its concentration indicates inflammation and pregnancy.

Interpretation of blood clotting indicators and their norm

Thrombin time is the period during which fibrinogen is converted to fibrin. This is the final stage of coagulation. Reducing the time means a high risk of thrombosis.

Correct and comprehensive interpretation of tests makes it possible to assess the state of the circulatory system in women and examine her overall health.

Decoding the coagulogram

A coagulogram is an advanced analysis that involves studying a number of indicators.

Clotting time

This is the interval from the onset of bleeding to its completion, accompanied by the formation of a fibrin clot. The coagulation period of capillary blood ranges from 0.5 to 5 minutes. Venous blood coagulates in 5–10 minutes.

Hypocoagulation may accompany:

• thrombocytopenia;
• hypovitaminosis C;
• hemophilia;
• liver diseases.

A reduced rate of blood clotting is also observed with long-term use of anticoagulants and massive bleeding. In women, this deviation often occurs while taking oral contraceptives.

Thrombin time

This is the rate of transformation of fibrinogen into fibrin. Normally, the process takes from 15 to 18 seconds. When this interval is shortened, they speak of an excess of fibrinogen, and when it lengthens, it indicates a low content of protein in the blood serum. Also, a decrease in thrombin time is observed in liver failure, hepatitis, and cirrhosis.

Reasons for deviation from the norm

If the clotting time is not normal, then pathological conditions are most likely present. Deviation is both acceleration and deceleration.

Increased speed

If, as a result of the study, doctors were able to determine the fact of an increase in the rate of formation of a blood clot, which is required for the natural blockage of the injured vascular wall, there is an increased risk of thrombosis.

This disorder occurs in thrombophilia, in DIC syndrome. Also, increased coagulability develops with long-term use of hormones, including oral contraceptives.

Reduced speed

A decrease in level is observed in the following diseases:

• leukemia;
• hemophilia;
• the last stage of DIC syndrome;
• violation of the course of treatment with anticoagulants, overdose;
• liver problems;
• lack of calcium, vitamin K;
• hemolytic anemia.

Doctors advise women over 50 years of age to undergo testing at least once a year. From this age, the risks of cardiovascular diseases become much higher, and the likelihood of stroke and heart attack also increases.

Sometimes Aspirin and its analogues are prescribed to normalize the condition; they are also indicated in lower doses for older people to prevent problems. But these drugs have their own side effects, so together with your doctor you carefully select the dose and treatment regimen.

Causes of development of blood clotting abnormalities

Any deviations from normal blood clotting are undesirable. There are such types of disorders in this case: increased and low coagulability. When this indicator increases, blood clots may occur, as a result of which the blood supply to individual organs decreases or even stops altogether. Moreover, such disorders can be either congenital or acquired.

The most common reasons for such deviations are:

• The patient is taking anti-inflammatory drugs, anticoagulants, fibrinolytics and aspirin.

Aspirin can reduce blood clotting

• Gene mutations, which can also be inherited (hemophilia).
• Lack of vitamin K in the body, blood and liver diseases, excessive blood loss.

Important! Poor clotting requires immediate treatment.

Causes and consequences of increased blood clotting

In this case, the likelihood of blood clots in the vascular system and inflammation of the veins increases significantly, which ultimately leads to the development of thrombophlebitis. The main signs of this pathology are the appearance of swelling in the area of ​​the affected veins, redness of the skin with pain.

Blood clots lead to disruption of blood flow in tissues, clogging blood vessels. Thus, tissue damage occurs in the unhealthy area. If there is a complete blockage of blood flow to an organ, an area appears where cells die (ischemic focus), this leads to disruption of the functioning of the organ, which is fraught with irreversible consequences.

Important! Increased coagulability poses the greatest danger to the brain and heart, since their damage often leads to disability and even death.

The most terrible complication of thrombophlebitis is the detachment of a blood clot. If the thrombus is diametrically smaller than the vessel, then it begins to move along with the blood until it clogs one of the vessels. The greatest danger to the patient's life is thromboembolism that occurs in the pulmonary artery. To avoid such consequences, blood clotting should be carefully checked.

There are a number of reasons that determine increased clotting. Here are the most common of them:

• Pulmonary edema;
• Dehydration caused by vomiting or diarrhea due to digestive problems. This should also include all kinds of poisoning;
• Pregnancy and taking contraceptive medications;
• Extensive burns;
• Parasite infestation;
• Excessive urine output caused by diabetes or kidney problems.

Features in pregnant women

Disorders in women often appear during menstruation or pregnancy. For pregnant women, a coagulogram is indicated at least once a month. During pregnancy, coagulation often worsens, but within normal limits. The reason for physiologically poor coagulation during pregnancy is a protective mechanism that helps prevent conflict between the mother and child.

What is the rate of blood clotting in pregnant women?

With a large deviation, placental abruption may occur, severe bleeding during childbirth, and the risk of miscarriage increases. The possibility of premature onset of labor and death due to hypoxia cannot be ruled out. Thrombosis in the placenta is very dangerous.

What is a coagulogram

The blood coagulation system operates based on a complex biochemical process.
For example, with any cut or scratch, it is possible to observe how the blood turns into a thick mass. This action is precisely the nature of coagulation. Impaired coagulation causes many diseases, leads to the formation of blood clots and causes pathology in the form of thromboembolism. Keeping blood in a liquid state and regulating blood clotting are the main functions of the hemostasis system. Hemostasis can be interpreted as the functional state of the blood. The coagulation system includes vascular cells (endothelium), platelets and plasma factors (15 in number).

It is plasma factors that create a fibrin clot, which stops bleeding. It should be noted that in the functioning of the blood coagulation system, an important role belongs to the liver, in which plasma coagulation factors are formed through the mediation of vitamin K.

The complex biochemical system of hemostasis also controls spontaneous thrombus formation, preventing the blood from thickening excessively under normal conditions. This is done by the anticoagulant and fibrinolytic systems.

The coagulogram is intended for a formal assessment of the functioning of the hemostatic system. A blood coagulogram contains indicative indicators. For a more accurate analysis, it is necessary to study thirteen factors that affect coagulation. It is their deficiency that causes serious diseases of the body. Acceleration of clotting can lead to an increased occurrence of blood clots, and decreased coagulogram values ​​will indicate possible heavy blood loss in the event of cuts or wounds.