[Interpretation of screening tests of hemostasis]

The specialized hemostasis laboratory offers a huge amount of coagulation tests. However, the most important test for the general physician are the so-called coagulation screening tests. These tests include the prothrombin time, the activated partial thromboplastin time, the thrombin clotting time (often in combination with the reptilase time), fibrinogen concentration and the platelet count. Primary haemostasis is investigated by using the bleeding time or the platelet function analyzer (PFA-100). Depending on the results, in a second phase of investigation specific factor assays or other tests may be indicated. In the present work, we present the individual tests and discuss possible reasons for abnormal results.