Fibrinogen blood test

Serum fibrinogen; Plasma fibrinogen; Factor I; Hypofibrinogenemia test

Fibrinogen is a protein produced by the liver. This protein helps stop bleeding by helping blood clots to form. A blood test can be done to tell how much fibrinogen you have in the blood.

How the Test is Performed

A sample of blood is needed.

How to Prepare for the Test

No special preparation is needed.

How the Test will Feel

When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or slight bruising. This soon goes away.

Why the Test is Performed

Your doctor may order this test if you have problems with blood clotting, such as excessive bleeding.

Normal Results

The normal range is 200 to 400 mg/dL.

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or may test different specimens. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

What Abnormal Results Mean

Abnormal results may be due to:

• The body uses up too much fibrinogen, such as in disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)
• Fibrinogen deficiency (from birth, or acquired after birth)
• Breakdown of fibrin ( fibrinolysis )
• Too much bleeding (hemorrhage)

The test may also be performed during pregnancy if the placenta separates from its attachment to the uterus wall ( placenta abruption ).

Risks

There is very little risk involved with having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size, so it may be harder to get a blood sample from one person than another.

Other risks or slight risks from having blood drawn may include:

• Excessive bleeding
• Fainting or feeling lightheaded
• Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
• Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)

This test is most often performed on people who have bleeding disorders. The risk of excessive bleeding is slightly greater in such people than it is for those who do not have bleeding problems.

Factor II assay

Prothrombin assay

The factor II assay is a blood test to measure the activity of factor II. Factor II is also known as prothrombin. This is one of the proteins in the body that helps the blood clot.

How the Test is Performed

A blood sample is needed.

How to Prepare for the Test

No special preparation is needed.

How the Test will Feel

When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or slight bruising. This soon goes away.

Why the Test is Performed

This test is used to find the cause of too much bleeding (decreased blood clotting). This decreased clotting may be caused by an abnormally low level of factor II.

Normal Results

The value should be 50 to 200% of the laboratory control or reference value.

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or may test different samples. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

What Abnormal Results Mean

Decreased factor II activity may be the result of:

• Deficiency of factor II
• Disorder in which the proteins that control blood clotting become overactive ( disseminated intravascular coagulation )
• Fat malabsorption (not enough fat absorbed in the diet)
• Liver disease (such as cirrhosis )
• Vitamin K deficiency
• Taking the blood-thinning drug called warfarin (Coumadin)

Risks

Veins and arteries vary in size so it may be harder to take a blood sample from one person than another.

Other slight risks associated with having blood drawn may include:

• Excessive bleeding
• Fainting or feeling light-headed
• Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
• Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)

This test is most often performed on people who have bleeding problems. The risk of excessive bleeding is slightly greater than for people without bleeding problems.

Factor IX assay

Christmas factor assay; Serum factor IX

The factor IX assay is a blood test that measures the activity of factor IX. This is one of the proteins in the body that helps the blood clot.

How the Test is Performed

A blood sample is needed.

How to Prepare for the Test

You may need to stop taking some medicines before this test. Your health care provider will tell you which ones.

How the Test will Feel

When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or slight bruising. This soon goes away.

Why the Test is Performed

This test is used to find the cause of too much bleeding (decreased blood clotting). Or, it may be ordered if a family member is known to have hemophilia B . The test may also be done to see how well treatment for hemophilia B is working.

Normal Results

A normal value is 50 to 200% of the laboratory control or reference value.

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or may test different samples. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

The examples above show the common measurements for results for these tests.

What Abnormal Results Mean

Decreased factor IX activity may be related to:

• Congenital deficiency of factor IX (hemophilia B)
• Disorder in which the proteins that control blood clotting become overactive ( disseminated intravascular coagulation )
• Fat malabsorption (not absorbing enough fat from your diet)
• Liver disease (such as cirrhosis )
• Vitamin K deficiency
• Taking the blood-thinning drug called warfarin (Coumadin)

Risks

Veins and arteries vary in size so it may be harder to take a blood sample from one person than another.

Other slight risks from having blood drawn may include:

• Excessive bleeding
• Fainting or feeling light-headed
• Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
• Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)

This test is most often done on people who have bleeding problems. The risk of excessive bleeding is slightly more than for people without bleeding problems.

Factor V assay

The factor V assay is a blood test to measure the activity of factor V. This is one of the proteins in the body that helps the blood clot.

How the Test is Performed

A blood sample is needed.

How to Prepare for the Test

No special preparation is needed.

How the Test will Feel

When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or slight bruising. This soon goes away.

Why the Test is Performed

This test is used to find the cause of too much bleeding (decreased blood clotting). This decreased clotting may be caused by an abnormally low level of factor V.

Normal Results

The value is normally 50 to 200% of the laboratory control or reference value.

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or may test different samples. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

What Abnormal Results Mean

Decreased factor V activity may be related to:

• Deficiency of factor V
• Disorder in which the proteins that control blood clotting become over active ( disseminated intravascular coagulation )
• Liver disease (such as cirrhosis )
• Abnormal breakdown of blood clots (secondary fibrinolysis)

Risks

Veins and arteries vary in size so it may be harder to take a blood sample from one person than another.

Other slight risks associated with having blood drawn may include:

• Excessive bleeding
• Fainting or feeling light headed
• Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
• Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)

This test is most often performed on people who have bleeding problems. The risk of excessive bleeding is slightly greater than for people without bleeding problems.

Factor VII assay

The factor VII assay is a blood test to measure the activity of factor VII. This is one of the proteins in the body that helps the blood clot.

How the Test is Performed

A blood sample is needed.

How to Prepare for the Test

You may need to temporarily stop taking some medicines before this test. Your health care provider will tell you which ones.

How the Test will Feel

When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or slight bruising. This soon goes away.

Why the Test is Performed

This test is used to find the cause of abnormal bleeding (decreased blood clotting). This decreased clotting may be caused by an abnormally low level of factor VII.

Normal Results

The normal value is 50 to 200% of the laboratory control or reference value.

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or may test different samples. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

What Abnormal Results Mean

Decreased factor VII activity may be related to:

• Deficiency of factor VII
• Disorder in which the proteins that control blood clotting become over active ( disseminated intravascular coagulation )
• Fat malabsorption (not absorbing enough fat from your diet)
• Liver disease (such as cirrhosis )
• Vitamin K deficiency
• Taking the blood thinning drug called warfarin (Coumadin)

Risks

Veins and arteries vary in size so it may be harder to take a blood sample from one person than another. Other slight risks from having blood drawn are may include:

• Excessive bleeding
• Fainting or feeling light headed
• Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
• Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)

This test is most often done on people who have bleeding problems. The risk of excessive bleeding is slightly greater than for people without bleeding problems.

Factor VIII assay

Plasma factor VIII antigen

The factor VIII assay is a blood test to measure the activity of factor VIII. This is one of the proteins in the body that helps the blood clot.

How the Test is Performed

A blood sample is needed.

How to Prepare for the Test

No special preparation is needed.

How the Test will Feel

When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or slight bruising. This soon goes away.

Why the Test is Performed

This test is used to find the cause of too much bleeding (decreased blood clotting). Or, it may be ordered if a family member is known to have hemophilia A . The test may also be done to see how well treatment for hemophilia A is working.

Normal Results

A normal value is 50 to 200% of the laboratory control or reference value.

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or may test different samples. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

What Abnormal Results Mean

Decreased factor VIII activity may be due to:

• Hemophilia A
• Disorder in which the proteins that control blood clotting become overactive disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)
• Presence of a Factor VIII inhibitor (antibody)
• Von Willebrand’s disease (another type of bleeding disorder)

Increased activity may be due to:

• Older age
• Diabetes
• Liver disease
• Inflammation
• Pregnancy
• Obesity

Risks

Veins and arteries vary in size so it may be harder to take a blood sample from one person than another.

Other slight risks from having blood drawn may include:

• Excessive bleeding
• Fainting or feeling light-headed
• Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
• Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)

This test is most often done on people who have bleeding problems. The risk of too much bleeding is slightly greater for people with bleeding problems than others.

Factor X assay

The factor X assay is a blood test to measure the activity of factor X. This is one of the proteins in the body that helps the blood clot.

How the Test is Performed

A blood sample is needed.

How to Prepare for the Test

You may need to stop taking some medicines before this test. Your health care provider will tell you which ones

How the Test will Feel

When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or slight bruising. This soon goes away.

Why the Test is Performed

This test may be used to find the cause of excessive bleeding (decreased blood clotting). The decreased clotting may be caused by an abnormally low level of factor X.

Normal Results

A normal value is 50 to 200% of the laboratory control or reference value.

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or may test different samples. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

What Abnormal Results Mean

Decreased factor X activity may be related to:

• Disorder in which abnormal proteins build up in tissues and organs ( amyloidosis )
• Deficiency of factor X that is present at birth (congenital)
• Disorder in which the proteins that control blood clotting become overactive ( disseminated intravascular coagulation )
• Fat malabsorption (not absorbing enough fat from your diet)
• Heparin use
• Liver disease
• Vitamin K deficiency
• Taking the blood-thinning drug called warfarin (Coumadin)

Risks

Veins and arteries vary in size so it may be harder to take a blood sample from one person than another.

Other slight risks from having blood drawn are may include:

• Excessive bleeding
• Fainting or feeling light-headed
• Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
• Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)

This test is most often performed on people who have bleeding problems. The risk of excessive bleeding is slightly greater than for people without bleeding problems.

Factor XII assay

Hageman factor assay

The factor XII assay is a blood test to measure the activity of factor XII. This is one of the proteins in the body that helps the blood clot.

How the Test is Performed

A blood sample is needed.

How to Prepare for the Test

Adults do not have to take any special steps to prepare for this test.

How the Test will Feel

When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or slight bruising. This soon goes away.

Why the Test is Performed

Your doctor may want you to have this test if you had abnormal results on the partial thromboplastin time (PTT) blood-clotting test . You may also need the test if a family member is known to have factor XII deficiency .

Normal Results

A normal value is 50 to 200% of the laboratory control or reference value.

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or may test different samples. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

What Abnormal Results Mean

Decreased factor XII activity may indicate:

• Inherited (congenital) deficiency of factor XII
• Liver disease

Risks

Veins and arteries vary in size so it may be harder to take a blood sample from one person than another.

Other slight risks from having blood drawn may include:

• Excessive bleeding
• Fainting or feeling light-headed
• Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
• Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)