Why get tested? To check how well blood-thinning medications (anti-coagulants) are working to prevent blood clots; to help detect and diagnose a bleeding disorder
When to get tested? If you are taking an anti-coagulant drug or if your doctor suspects that you may have a bleeding disorder
Sample required? A blood sample drawn from a vein in the arm; sometimes blood from a fingerstick
This article was last reviewed on September 29, 2008.
This page was last modified on April 8, 2009.
The review date indicates when the article was last reviewed from beginning to end to ensure that it reflects the most current science. A review may not require any modifications to the article, so the two dates may not always agree.
The modified date indicates that one or more changes were made to the page. Such changes may or may not result from a full review of the page, so the two dates may not always agree.