Quick
PT/INR testing is a fact of life for all patients who take the anti-coagulant warfarin.
INR Management
What Is an INR Test
An INR test measures the time for the blood to clot. It is also known as prothrombin time, or PT. It is used to monitor blood-thinning medicines, which are also known as anticoagulants. The INR, or international normalized ratio, can also be used to check if you have a blood clotting problem. Prothrombin is a protein produced by the liver. It is one of several proteins, known as clotting factors, that help the blood stay at the right consistency. The INR test measures this clotting factor by measuring how long it takes for the blood to clot.
Why Do I Need to Test?
- Blood-thinning medicines such as warfarin are used to prevent blood clots. Warfarin is usually prescribed for people who have atrial fibrillation (where the heart beats unevenly) or who have had artificial valves fitted. How well warfarin is working is measured by how it increases the blood clotting time. So, if you are taking warfarin, you might need an INR test.
- Blood thinning medicines work by increasing the time it takes for the blood to clot.
- Your doctor can use an INR test to make sure the warfarin dose is right for you.
- Blood clotting helps the body stop bleeding. But blood clots can also cause strokes or heart attacks. The INR test helps balance the risk of internal bleeding against the risk of blood clotting.
Benefits of Home INR Testing
Convenient
Testing can be done quickly and easily from the comfort of home or almost anywhere life may take you.
Safety
Home INR tests are convenient and have been proven to help reduce the risks of complications from long-term warfarin therapy.
Coverage
Medicare and insurance covered service enables chronic warfarin patients to self-test their INR levels at home up to once a week.
