Changes

===Prothrombin Time===

===Prothrombin Time===

Prothrombin time (PT) gives an assessment of the extrinsic and common pathways by measuring the time necessary to generate fibrin after activation of factor VII³. It is performed by an automated analyser² using citrated plasma^{1, 3}. Blood should therefore be collected into a sodium citrate tube if prothrombin time is to be performed.  

Prothrombin time (PT) gives an assessment of the extrinsic and common pathways by measuring the time necessary to generate fibrin after activation of factor VII³. It is performed by an automated analyser² using citrated plasma^{1, 3}. Blood should therefore be collected into a sodium citrate tube if prothrombin time is to be performed. In basic terms, the test procedure involves adding thromoplastin to the patient's plasma, warming, adding calcium and recording the time taken to clot¹.