The Coag blood test is ordered to determine if a patient has enough of a coagulation factor in their blood. This is a measurement that helps to determine how efficient the clotting process happens to be. It measures specific factors within the blood to determine if they are not present at all or in levels that are below normal. Because these factors are associated with bleeding and clot formation, there can also rarely be a high result with the Coag blood test as well.
Why Will the Coag Blood Test Be Ordered?
If someone is experiencing some form of continual bleeding or has unexplained bruises that continue to form, then the Coag blood tests may be ordered. There are three ways that this blood test may be ordered. Coagulation factor activities may also be ordered when there is a suspicion of liver disease or if there may be a Vitamin K deficiency suspected.
1. The prothrombin time test.
2. The partial thromboplastin time test.
3. A combination of both tests.
It is not unusual for the Coag blood test to be ordered in conjunction with a series of tests in order to determine a definitive diagnosis. Family history is important to the coagulation factor, so when there is a medical history that includes regular bleeding, this test may be ordered routinely as a sort of screening process to check on health.
It can also be used to determine if a patient has the markers or is a carrier for genetic conditions that may cause regular bleeding. If a diagnosis has already been made, then the Coag blood test may be used to track the effectiveness of a treatment plan that has been implemented.
What Do the Coag Blood Test Results Mean?
Most people will receive a test result that is within a normal range. This is an indication that their blood coagulates in a normal way. For a test to be considered normal, each coagulation factor must be operating in a sufficient quantity. Most Coag tests are reported has a percentage of the factor that is present, with 100% being considered normal.
If there is an abnormal test, almost all patients will be experiencing a deficiency in coag factor in some way. They are a representation of the fact that there could be an acquired or inherited health issue that is currently active. They may be mild or they may be severe. They may also be a temporary health issue or the issues present may be permanent.
Any test result that is below 100% would be considered an abnormal test. Your doctor will discuss the severity of your condition with your test results. As a general rule, however, a greater deficiency will typically indicate that a disease has become more severe. Someone with a Coag blood test result of 25%, for example, would typically have a more severe condition than someone with a test result of 75%.
What if the Coag blood test results are high? Percentages above 100% may sometimes occur in specific people with specific conditions. Those who have an acute illness, are exposed to high levels of stress on a consistent basis, or have chronic inflammation will be the most likely to have a high result. Those who have persistently high results of one factor, Factor VIII, are at a higher risk than the general population of developing venous thrombosis.
What Will Be Done About the Results?
Treatment for a deficiency will typically involve a replacement of the missing coagulation factors and treatment of the underlying condition that is causing it. The most common reason for an abnormal result is a vitamin deficiency, so supplements or lifestyle changes are typically ordered. Patients who are having specific drug therapies, such as warfarin, will also have abnormal results.
Exposure to a snake’s venom, uremia, and liver disease are also possibilities to explain a low coagulation factor. Sometimes patients who have recently had a blood transfusion of red blood cells will also have an abnormal result, but this will be tracked over time to determine progress.
You may wish to discuss with your doctor about having a treatment of a concentrated cryoprecipitate if the coagulation factors are chronically low or the benefits of using commercially available replacement factors. These may help to stop bleeding episodes when they occur or may be recommended to be a preventative measure for a dental procedure or upcoming surgery so that excessive blood loss does not occur.
Most people have the Coag blood test to monitor and ongoing treatment. If bleeding is regular and persistent, however, consider speaking with your doctor about this particular blood test as well. By understanding the results and what they represent, it becomes easier to better take care of one’s health.