Understanding APTT Full Form: What You Need to Know About the Test
Time to read 7 min
Time to read 7 min
APTT is a blood test that helps find a particular group of clotting factors. It shows the amount of clotting factors and how well they are functioning. The test is usually done along with other medical tests that diagnose clotting factors and how well they all function. This means that APTT is a blood test performed to diagnose bleeding disorders and screen blood clotting therapy.
The Full form of APTT is Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time. It is a blood test that is conducted to analyze the time taken for blood to clot. The test evaluates the way clotting factors are functioning in your body. It measures the clotting capacity of factors VII, IX, XI, and XII. This test can diagnose hemophilia. Usually, the test is ordered to monitor heparin therapy.
Generally, when you have a cut or injury in your body that is accompanied by bleeding, various types of proteins present in your blood work together to make a clot to prevent further bleeding. These proteins are called clotting factors or coagulation factors.
If any of these clotting factors are missing, not working appropriately, or present at a low level, it may:
The APTT test is categorized as a blood coagulation test. It is used to measure the time your blood takes to form a clot. Typically, if one of your blood vessels is damaged, clotting factors (proteins in the blood) collect up in a certain way to form blood clots and stop bleeding quickly. This test helps find out how well those clotting factors are doing their job.
Blood clots are formed in a particular series of steps called a pathway. This test mainly finds out how the intrinsic clotting pathway and common final pathway are doing their job. The clotting factors involved in this process are prekallikrein, fibrinogen, high molecular weight kininogen, and factors II, V, VIII, IX, X, XI, and XII.
Your healthcare professional may recommend the APTT test if they suspect a problem with clotting factors. The test can find out if you have bleeding disorders or any other diseases that prevent blood clotting in your body. It is also used to screen patients who are taking heparin therapy. Heparin is a blood thinner broadly used to avoid perilous blood clots.
APTT test checks the complications with a particular group of blood clotting factors, and the test is conducted to find:
The medical professional will take your blood sample using a needle from a vein in your arm. A small amount of your blood is collected in the test tube. You may feel a little sting as the needle goes into your vein. It hardly takes five minutes.
Both Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT) and Prothrombin Time (PT) are blood tests used to measure the time taken by blood to clot. Generally, these tests are conducted to diagnose and monitor blood disorders and blood-thinning medications.
PT test measures clotting factors I, II, V, VII, and X. It evaluates extrinsic and common pathways. It determines how long plasma takes to clot after adding tissue factor, phospholipid, and calcium.
APTT test measures clotting factors VIII, IX, XI, and XII. It evaluates intrinsic and common pathways. It assesses how long plasma takes to clot after adding a contact agent that activates calcium factors XII and phospholipids.
Test results are assessed in just a few seconds. The test results depend on age, gender, medical history, test method, and other factors. Your test results may not signify that you have a problem. Talk to your healthcare provider to know what your test results indicate. The results will specify how long your blood takes to clot and usually compare the results with the sample tested at the same time.
The normal APTT range is around 25 to 35 seconds and may vary depending on the methods and types of equipment used for testing. For that matter, standard normal results may differ in each lab. If the test takes longer than usual to clot during the test, it may be because of several reasons such as liver disease, vitamin K deficiency, genetic disorders, excessive heparin, certain leukemia, or autoimmune diseases. Generally, other tests are performed along with APTT to better understand the factors involved.
If your blood clots faster than normal during the test, it can be because of the initial stage of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). This rare condition affects blood clotting. The initial stage involves excessive blood clotting, and later, the condition uses up the clotting factors of blood, leading to bleeding problems. Rapid blood clotting may also indicate ovarian, colon, or pancreatic cancer that has spread to other body parts.
Certain medications such as Warfarin and Heparin may affect the APTT test results. If you are currently taking these medicines, consult your doctor to understand when you need to stop these medicines before the test.
High Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time levels signify that the blood is taking longer than normal to clot. If the test takes longer than usual to clot during the test, it may be because of several reasons such as liver disease, vitamin K deficiency, genetic disorders, excessive heparin, certain leukemia, or autoimmune diseases. Generally, other tests are performed along with APTT to better understand the factors involved.
An extended APTT can increase the risk of blood clots if it happens due to lupus anticoagulant. A continued preoperatory APTT in pediatric patients can delay surgeries and lead to repeated blood tests. Always consult a healthcare specialist for a precise diagnosis and personalized treatment options depending on your health condition.
The Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time Test is a type of blood test that diagnoses bleeding disorders by assessing how long it takes for blood to clot. The test is often conducted when someone experiences unexplained clotting or bleeding. If your APTT levels are not normal, you should seek your doctor’s advice. If you have unexplained bleeding, heavy menstrual bleeding, bruising, are taking blood thinners, or have a history of bleeding complications, liver diseases, or having surgery, an abnormal APTT may be an indication of a potential clotting problem necessitating further diagnosis and management.
The test is prescribed to analyze the time blood takes to form a clot. Generally, when any blood vessel gets damaged, the proteins present in your blood (clotting factors) join in a certain way to form clots and stop bleeding. The healthcare professionals order this test to understand how well the clotting factors are functioning.
A critical value of more than 70 seconds indicates spontaneous bleeding, and a value of more than 100 seconds indicates spontaneous bleeding.
The high aPTT may indicate liver diseases because the liver is a major source of most coagulation factors. If a patient has had a thrombotic episode or repeated miscarriages, the aPTT may be recommended to evaluate antiphospholipid syndrome.
An emergency surgery can be performed in patients with severe APTT prolongation however, careful evaluation and proper esauring are necessary in such cases. The evaluation of the underlying etiology for prolonged APTT is essential.
Certain medications such as heparin and warfarin can impact APTT results. If you have been prescribed these medicines, stick to your doctor’s instructions. You may need to stop taking these medicines before the test.
**Medical Disclaimer: The following information is for educational purposes only. No information provided on this page, including texts, graphics, and images, is intended as a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult with your doctor for specific medical advice concerning your medical condition(s).
Blood Tests to Consider
Supplements to Consider
**Medical Disclaimer: The following information is for educational purposes only. No information provided on this page, including texts, graphics, and images, is intended as a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult with your doctor for specific medical advice concerning your medical condition(s).
Blood Tests to Consider
Supplements to Consider
