And the question is...Is the patient bleeding or clotting? A guide to appropriate testing and evaluation

With recent advances in hemostasis, there has been an increased demand for clinical testing of patients with suspected bleeding and clotting disorders. There has also been an increase in the available testing that clinicians can order from the clinical laboratory. Unfortunately, to complicate matters further, some of the tests sound very much alike but test for very different conditions. Which test is indicated for what condition is not always clear, and can lead to erroneous testing with complicating results. A basic understanding of the hemostasis mechanism and the specific target of the test is imperative for correct test selection.