There are now clinical laboratory assays that assess hemostasis at different steps within the process. This includes not only traditional screening tests, which have existed for quite some time (e.g., PT, aPTT), but also more specialized testing (e.g., factor assays, platelet function assays, mixing studies, and drug monitoring assays).
Before discussing these components in more detail, it is important to realize that while we discuss them within this course separately for learning purposes, they are very much interconnected in the body.
This flow diagram demonstrates the steps we will take to review the basic physiology of blood clotting. Use this flow chart as a guide to better understand the steps in the formation of a clot. Be aware that this chart does not include fibrinolysis or natural coagulation inhibitors.
