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You are here : 3-RX.com > Medical Encyclopedia > Tests and Exams > Prothrombin Time: Results and Values

Prothrombin Time

Alternate Names : PT

Prothrombin Time | Preparation & Expectations | Results and Values

What do the test results mean?

The healthy range for a PT test depends on the standards of the lab. It generally falls between 10 to 15 seconds. When a person is taking blood thinners, the international normalized ratio, called the INR, is calculated to determine the correct dosage of the medicine. High PT values may occur when a person:

  • is taking blood-thinning medicines, especially warfarin
  • is taking other medicines, such as certain antibiotics, that interfere with the test
  • has severe liver disease
  • has disseminated intravascular clotting, called DIC, a complex blood disorder that occurs when clotting mechanisms are activated throughout the body
  • has certain rare, inherited bleeding disorders
  • has a vitamin K deficiency
  • Abnormally low PT values are usually not significant. However, they may occur when a person:

  • has cancer
  • has blood clots
  • is taking certain medicines, such as birth control pills

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    Prothrombin Time: Preparation & Expectations

     

    Author: David T. Moran, MD
    Reviewer: Melinda Murray Ratini, DO
    Date Reviewed: 08/15/02



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