Aim:
The aim of detecting blood clotting time is to assess the time it takes for blood to form a clot after an injury. This test evaluates the efficiency of the coagulation process and helps detect disorders related to blood clotting, such as bleeding tendencies or clotting factor deficiencies.
Principle:
The principle behind blood clotting time detection is based on the coagulation cascade, a series of events where blood proteins (clotting factors) are activated in response to blood vessel injury, ultimately leading to the formation of a fibrin clot that stops bleeding.
• When blood is exposed to an injury, it undergoes a series of processes: vascular constriction, platelet aggregation, and activation of the coagulation cascade.
• The coagulation cascade involves two main pathways:
o Intrinsic pathway (initiated by internal blood vessel damage)
o Extrinsic pathway (triggered by external trauma, such as a wound)
• The final step of the cascade involves the formation of thrombin, which converts fibrinogen into fibrin. Fibrin threads form a mesh, trapping blood cells and platelets to create a clot.
• The blood clotting time reflects how long it takes for this process to occur, depending on factors like platelet function, coagulation factors, and the integrity of the blood vessels.
