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Coagulation factors are proteins in your blood. They help form blood clots to stop bleeding when you have an injury. These proteins are also called clotting factors. You have several different types of clotting factors that are all important for making blood clots.
\nCoagulation factor tests are blood tests that check one or more of your clotting factors to see if you:
\nYour liver makes most of your clotting factors. But normally, clotting factors are turned off, so you don't form abnormal blood clots. When you have an injury that causes bleeding, blood cells called platelets begin to make a soft blood clot to stop the bleeding.
\nThe platelets release molecules into your blood that begin to turn on the clotting factors. The clotting factors work together in a chain reaction to form a harder blood clot that will stay firmly in place.
\nProblems with any one of your clotting factors may mean that:
\nClotting factors have names, such as fibrinogen and prothrombin. Each clotting factor also has a Roman numeral name, such as \"clotting factor II.\"
\nOther names: blood clotting factors, factor assays, factor assay by number (Factor I, Factor II, Factor VIII, etc.) or by name (fibrinogen, prothrombin, hemophilia A, hemophilia B, etc.), coagulation panel
A coagulation factor test is used to find out if you have a problem with any of your clotting factors that may cause too little or too much blood clotting.
\nCoagulation factor tests are also used to monitor people who have a known problem with clotting factors or who take medicine called blood thinners to lower the risk of blood clots.
\nYou may have tests for one or more factors at a time.
You may need this test if you have:
\nA health condition that may affect clotting factors in your blood:
\nConditions that may cause a bleeding disorder include:
\nConditions that may cause a problem with blood clots include:
\nSymptoms that may be from a problem with clotting factors:
\nSymptoms of bleeding disorders may include:
\nSymptoms of too much blood clotting may include:
\nA health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.
You don't need any special preparations for a coagulation factor test.
There is very little risk to having a blood test. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly.
Your provider may need to order other tests to diagnose the cause of a problem with your clotting factors.
\nLower than normal levels of one or more clotting factors or a missing clotting factor may mean you have a bleeding disorder. Depending on which clotting factors were tested, your results may show the type of bleeding disorder you have and how serious it is.
\nHigher than normal levels of one or more clotting factors may mean you have a disorder that makes your blood clot more than it should. Your provider may recommend medicine and heart-healthy lifestyle changes to help prevent clots. You may also need to avoid hormone replacement therapy for menopause and birth control pills with estrogen, because they may increase the risk of blood clots.
\nTalk with your provider to find out what your tests results mean and what treatment is best for you.
\nLearn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results.