Clotting time test

Author: Scott A. Sheffield MS

Last update:

Introduction to The Clotting Time Test:

The whole-blood clotting time test is one of the simplest methods to determine how well the clotting process is functioning. This test determines how long it takes to initiate the intrinsic coagulation pathway after blood enters a glass tube.

Procedures:

  1. A finger is image descriptionlanced an a small drop of blood is allowed to accumulate.
Animation of the index finger being lanced and the blood accumulating.
Animation of the index finger being lanced and the blood accumulating.
Animation of the index finger being lanced and the blood accumulating.
Animation of the index finger being lanced and the blood accumulating.
Animation of the index finger being lanced and the blood accumulating.
Animation of the index finger being lanced and the blood accumulating.
Animation of the index finger being lanced and the blood accumulating.
Animation of the index finger being lanced and the blood accumulating.
Animation of the index finger being lanced and the blood accumulating.
Animation of the index finger being lanced and the blood accumulating.
Animation of the index finger being lanced and the blood accumulating.
Animation of the index finger being lanced and the blood accumulating.
Animation of the index finger being lanced and the blood accumulating.
Animation of the index finger being lanced and the blood accumulating.
Animation of the index finger being lanced and the blood accumulating.
Animation of the index finger being lanced and the blood accumulating.
Finger being lanced and blood accumulating.
  1. The time is noted, then blood is image descriptiondrawn up into a nonheparinized glass tube.
Animation of the blood being drawn into a heparinized tube.
Animation of the blood being drawn into a heparinized tube.
Animation of the blood being drawn into a heparinized tube.
Animation of the blood being drawn into a heparinized tube.
Animation of the blood being drawn into a heparinized tube.
Animation of the blood being drawn into a heparinized tube.
Animation of the blood being drawn into a heparinized tube.
Animation of the blood being drawn into a heparinized tube.
Animation of the blood being drawn into a heparinized tube.
Animation of the blood being drawn into a heparinized tube.
Animation of the blood being drawn into a heparinized tube.
Animation of the blood being drawn into a heparinized tube.
Blood is drawn up into a nonheparinized tube.

Negative charges associated with the glass will initiate the intrinsic coagulation pathway.

  1. After 2 minutes, a small portion of the glass tube is image descriptionbroken off. Other pieces of the tube are then broken off every 30 seconds.

Improve your histology identification skills with these interactive quizzes and labelling exercises.

An animation showing a small portion being broken off of a glass tube filled with whole-blood.
An animation showing a small portion being broken off of a glass tube filled with whole-blood.
An animation showing a small portion being broken off of a glass tube filled with whole-blood.
An animation showing a small portion being broken off of a glass tube filled with whole-blood.
An animation showing a small portion being broken off of a glass tube filled with whole-blood.
An animation showing a small portion being broken off of a glass tube filled with whole-blood.
An animation showing a small portion being broken off of a glass tube filled with whole-blood.
An animation showing a small portion being broken off of a glass tube filled with whole-blood.
An animation showing a small portion being broken off of a glass tube filled with whole-blood.
An animation showing a small portion being broken off of a glass tube filled with whole-blood.
An animation showing a small portion being broken off of a glass tube filled with whole-blood.
An animation showing a small portion being broken off of a glass tube filled with whole-blood.
An animation showing a small portion being broken off of a glass tube filled with whole-blood.
An animation showing a small portion being broken off of a glass tube filled with whole-blood.
An animation showing a small portion being broken off of a glass tube filled with whole-blood.
An animation showing a small portion being broken off of a glass tube filled with whole-blood.
A small portion of the glass tube being broken off.
  1. If the intrinsic coagulation pathway is functioning normally, strands of image descriptionfibrin will form and adhere to edges of the broken glass within 2 to 6 minutes.
An animation showing fibrin threads forming and adhering to the edges of the broken glass.
An animation showing fibrin threads forming and adhering to the edges of the broken glass.
An animation showing fibrin threads forming and adhering to the edges of the broken glass.
An animation showing fibrin threads forming and adhering to the edges of the broken glass.
An animation showing fibrin threads forming and adhering to the edges of the broken glass.
An animation showing fibrin threads forming and adhering to the edges of the broken glass.
An animation showing fibrin threads forming and adhering to the edges of the broken glass.
An animation showing fibrin threads forming and adhering to the edges of the broken glass.
An animation showing fibrin threads forming and adhering to the edges of the broken glass.
An animation showing fibrin threads forming and adhering to the edges of the broken glass.
An animation showing fibrin threads forming and adhering to the edges of the broken glass.
Fibrin threads forming and adhering to the edges of the broken glass.

Test yourself:

Clotting Time Quiz

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