In 2020, one in five (approximately 700,000) deaths in the US were attributed to heart disease. Risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking. Contributing factors include diabetes, obesity, an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and excessive use of alcohol.

To protect their heart and reduce the incidence of heart attacks or blood clots, millions of Americans are prescribed an anticoagulant like Warfarin. Anticoagulants can help reduce the risk of blood clots but may also increase the risk of bleeding.

A prothrombin time (PT) test measures the amount of time it takes for a blood sample to form a clot. Most labs report PT test results using INR (international normalized ratio) which is a calculated measurement that adjusts for laboratory test variances. Alternatively, a partial thromboplastin time test (PTT) might be ordered to check for coagulation factor abnormalities in plasma instead of whole blood.

The normal clotting cascade following an injury involves proteins called clotting or coagulation factors. Prothrombin, a clotting factor produced by the liver combines with other substances to form a blood clot. Low prothrombin levels may cause excessive bleeding. High levels may cause dangerous clots to form in arteries or veins.

PT test results may be impacted by medications, supplements, food, or alcohol. Offending medications include some antibiotics, barbiturates, oral contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy, aspirin, heparin, and antihistamines.

Knowing how diet and specific food choices can affect the INR is important in living a healthy life while taking Warfarin. Your body needs to balance the amounts of vitamin K and Warfarin within it at any given time. Consistency is key; avoidance is not the solution. A person taking Warfarin should aim for a consistent intake of foods rich in vitamin K every day. It is important to be aware of the type of foods chosen daily, to pay attention to portion sizes, and to understand the frequency in which foods high in Vitamin K are consumed. Adhering to the advice of a doctor regarding changes to diet, medication, or supplements is best.

A prothrombin time (PT) test measures the amount of time it takes for a blood sample to form a clot. Most labs report PT test results using INR (international normalized ratio) which is a calculated measurement that adjusts for laboratory test variances. Alternatively, a partial thromboplastin time test (PTT) might be ordered to check for coagulation factor abnormalities in plasma instead of whole blood.

The normal clotting cascade following an injury involves proteins called clotting or coagulation factors. Prothrombin, a clotting factor produced by the liver combines with other substances to form a blood clot. Low prothrombin levels may cause excessive bleeding. High levels may cause dangerous clots to form in arteries or veins.

The desire for in-home patient monitoring equipment has recently experienced an upsurge. Remote patient monitoring, temperature management, and electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring are leading the way.

Anticoagulation testing in the home is also gaining popularity. A PT/INR test is simple to perform. Using a portable device, a drop of blood is applied to a test strip and results are available in less than one minute.

Using the Coag-Sense^® PT2 Meter, PT/INR results are accurate and reliable. The normal range for INR is 0.8 to 1.1 whereas the therapeutic range for a patient on Warfarin is 2.0 to 3.0. Results can be transmitted to your clinical care team via Wi-Fi, ethernet, Bluetooth, or USB.

Track clotting time, reduce the number of required clinic visits, and improve health outcomes.