After confirming that pre-examination factors are not responsible for the prolonged coagulation test(s) and that no known medical condition, such as liver disease, vitamin K deficiency, or DIC, is causing the prolongation, a mixing study may be ordered to detect the presence of a possible factor deficiency or coagulation inhibitor.
Knowledge of the coagulation factors monitored by the PT and aPTT tests is necessary to choose the appropriate mixing study that should be performed.
