4B.

Bleeding time and clotting time

Bleeding time
Material Required: Blood lancet, filter paper, sphygmometer, spirit swab.
Dukes method.
In this method, using sterile precautions, a nick is made in the fingertip deep
enough to result in bleeding. The test is timed from the injury is inflicted. The
bleeding site is blotted on a filter paper every 30 seconds. The interval between
the nick and stoppage of bleeding is noted with the help of a stopwatch.
Normally, by this method, the bleeding time is about 3 minutes.
Ivys method.
This is a more accurate method. A blood pressure cuff is tied on the arm and kept
inflated to a pressure of 40 mmHg. This step occludes venous flow from the arm
and therefore increases capillary pressure in the forearm. Using sterile
precautions, a standard nick (3mm deep, 1mm wide) is made n trhe forearm 5cm
below the elbow. Blood is blotted on a filter paper every 30 seconds. Using a stop
watch, the interval between infliction of the nick and stoppage of bleeding is
noted. Normal bleeding time by this method: 1-7 minutes.
Clotting time:
Material Required: Blood lancet, capillary tube, spirit swab
Method:
Using sterile precautions, a nick is inflicted on the tip of a finger to result in
bleeding. Freely flowing blood is drawn into a glass capillary tube about 8cm
long. The capillary tube is broken from one end every 30 seconds, starting about
one and a half minutes from the time of filling it. The time for fibrin threads to
appear between the two broken ends of the capillary and the time when blood is
taken into the tube is the clotting time. Normally, clotting time by this method is
2-6 minutes.
Assignment
1. What does bleeding time reflect?

2. What does clotting time reflect?

3. Why is bleeding time prolonged in thrombocytopenia?

4. Why is bleeding time prolonged in von Willebrands disease?

5. What happens to clotting time in von Willebrands disease?

6. Why is clotting time prolonged in patients with chronic liver disease?

7. Give an example each of in vitro and in vivo anticoagulants.