Evaluation of the bleeding patient

The evaluation of the bleeding patient starts with the integration of data from the history and physical examination. From this results either one probable explanation that can easily be substatniated by laboratory studies or, as more commonly occurs in practice, several possibilities that are reasonable and must be investigated by more extensive laboratory tests. In either event, the initial laboratory evaluation usually includes examination of the peripheral blood and measurement of the platelet count, bleeding time, prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, and thrombin time. More specific laboratory tests are then performed if indicated.