PARTIAL THROMBOPLASTIN TIME AS A SCREENING-TEST

The partial thromboplastin time was first described by Langdell, Wagner, and Brinkhous in 1953 and has been shown to be a useful screening test in the detection of latent bleeding disorders and minor clotting-factor deficiencies. To our knowledge, no one has questioned its routine application to medical and surgical preoperative patients. It is well documented that the partial thromboplastin time is an effective test when used to screen patients with a previous history of bleeding abnormalities. We found that all the patients with prolonged partial thromboplastin times had a predictable risk for a bleeding abnormality at the time of the partial thromboplastin time measurement. One can conclude from our data with screening partial thromboplastin times that the abnormal test results were found in patients who have a clinically predictable bleeding risk.