Coagulation Panel

This panel assesses how well your blood forms clots, an essential process that stops bleeding after an injury. Clotting relies on a series of proteins called clotting factors working together in the right sequence. This test measures several markers that reflect different parts of this process, helping to identify whether your blood is clotting normally, too slowly, or too readily.

What the panel measures

• Prothrombin time (PT) and INR: measure how long one of the main clotting pathways takes to work. The INR is a standardised version of the PT, widely used to monitor people taking blood-thinning medication such as warfarin
• Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT): assesses a different clotting pathway and can help detect certain clotting factor problems
• Thrombin time (TT): measures the final step of clot formation
• Fibrinogen: measures the level of a key protein needed to form a clot

What it can help assess

• Investigating unexplained bleeding or bruising, which may point to a clotting problem
• Assessing clotting before certain procedures, where normal clotting is important
• Monitoring blood-thinning treatment, particularly through the INR
• Supporting the investigation of clotting and liver-related conditions, as many clotting factors are made in the liver

An important note on interpretation

These results are always interpreted together and alongside your symptoms, medical history, and any medication you take. An abnormal result does not identify a specific condition on its own but indicates that further assessment may be needed. Any abnormal result should be discussed with your GP or specialist, who can interpret it in the context of your individual situation.

Why it matters

Healthy clotting is a careful balance, too little raises the risk of excessive bleeding, while too much raises the risk of harmful clots. This panel helps assess that balance, supporting the investigation of bleeding or clotting concerns and the safe monitoring of blood-thinning treatment.

• Prothrombin time (PT)
• International Normalised Ratio (INR)
• Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT)
• Thrombin time (TT)
• Fibrinogen level (Fib)

No special preparation required.

For blood tests, we recommend drinking plenty of water beforehand to ensure smooth sample collection. If you are taking any regular medication, continue to do so unless advised otherwise by your doctor.