McMaster Textbook of Internal Medicine

Screening coagulation tests

2020-03-04

Alfonso Iorio

Recorded at the 5th McMaster International Review Course in Internal Medicine (MIRCIM).

Dr Alfonso Iorio is a professor in the Division of Hematology and Thromboembolism, Division of General Internal Medicine, and Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact at McMaster University.

What are the indications to perform screening coagulation tests?

Alfonso Iorio, MD, PhD: This is a tricky question. Essentially a patient with a personal or family history positive for a bleeding disorder will undergo screening. This also applies to a patient with a noninformative bleeding history, so when there were no important challenges, no surgery, no big trauma, and we cannot really tell if they are able to clot or not. And then a patient undergoing surgery in this situation.

In all other cases screening of the general population makes no sense.

See also

Target CBC values in patients with ET on cytoreductive treatment What are the target complete blood count (CBC) values in patients receiving cytoreductive treatment for essential thrombocythemia (ET)?
Screening tests in patients with a suspected bleeding disorder What tests do you perform in a patient with a suspected bleeding disorder who has normal coagulation screening test results (platelet count, prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time, fibrinogen)?
Frequent mistakes doctors make in anticoagulation A lecture by Dr Wendy Lim, from McMaster University, Canada, delivered at McMaster International Review Course in Internal Medicine in Kraków in May 2018.
A patient who bruises/bleeds easily: how to investigate A lecture by Dr Alfonso Iorio, from McMaster University, Canada, delivered at McMaster International Review Course in Internal Medicine in Kraków in May 2018.
Evaluation and treatment of iron deficiency anemia A lecture by Dr Mark Crowther, from McMaster University, Canada, delivered at McMaster International Review Course in Internal Medicine in Kraków in May 2018.
Repeat vWF testing to exclude von Willebrand disease Should von Willebrand factor testing be repeated before excluding the diagnosis of von Willebrand disease?
Antithrombotic treatment in a patient with thrombocytopenia Can antithrombotic treatment be used in a patient with thrombocytopenia? If yes, what are the indications?

We would love to hear from you

Comments, mistakes, suggestions?

We use cookies to ensure you get the best browsing experience on our website. Refer to our Cookies Information and Privacy Policy for more details.