A prothrombin time test determines how quickly your blood clots. Prothrombin is a protein created by your liver. It is one of several factors in your blood that help it to clot appropriately. If you take a blood-thinning medication like warfarin (Coumadin), your prothrombin time test results will be expressed as a ratio called the international normalized ratio (INR).
A prothrombin time (PT) test is done to help measure and diagnose a bleeding disorder or blood clotting disorder; the international normalized ratio (INR) is measured from a PT result and is used to screen how well the blood-thinning medication is working to prevent blood clots.
When you are taking blood-thinning medication like warfarin or when you have unexplained or prolonged bleeding or inappropriate blood clotting.
Note: The medical information provided here in this website is for informational purposes only and is not to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
