Bleeding Time: Defintion, Methods, Normal Range, Uses

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What Do You Mean By Bleeding Time:

Bleeding time is a type of blood test that is used to measure the time taken for the bleeding to arrest after a puncture or cut to the skin capillary bed occurs. 

Normal range of bleeding time: 2-6 minutes.

Bleeding time is detected by different methods:

1. Duke's Finger Tip Method

2. Ivy's Method

• Incisions near the wrist regions
• Incisions in the forearm

1. Duke's Method To Derive Bleeding Time:

Bleeding time by Duke's method is performed by pricking the Finger tip or earlobe.

Also Read:

• Bleeding Disorders
• Clotting Time, Methods, Procedure Normal Range, And Uses

Material Required To Perform Duke's Method:

• Bloting paper or filter paper
• Alcohol spirit
• Cotton
• Gloves
• Lancet or needle
• Stop watch

Principle Of Duke's Method:

Bleeding time is important process to identify the capillary integrity and platelet plug formation.

The bleeding time in an individual is dependent upon factors like:

• Capillary function
• Total number of blood platelet present and their ability to form a platelet plug.
• Tissue Fluid's efficiency in accelerating the clotting process.

Duke's Procedure:

1. Firstly, clean the tip of the finger tip or the earlobe with alcohol swab and allow it to dry prior to the prick.
2. Prick or pierce the tip of  finger or earlobe about 3-4 millimeters deep by a disposable lancet.
3. Immediately start the stop watch after pricking.
4. Blood should be allowed to flow freely without squeezing.
5. Then blot the blood with the filter paper in a interval of once in every 30 seconds.
6. Perform this until the bleeding stops.
7. Then stop the stop watch and note the time.
8. This time is referred as the bleeding time.

Also Read:

• Pheripheral Blood Smear
• Thrombin Time

2. Ivy's Method To Detect The Bleeding Time:

Bleeding time through Ivy's methods is detected by making the incisions in the forearm or near the wrist region.

Incisions Made On The Forearm

Multiple Incions Made Near Wrist Region:

Material Requiremts For Ivy's Method:

• Stopwatch
• Bloting paper or filter paper
• Blood pressure cuff
• Gloves
• Lancet or needle
• Alcohol spirit
• Cotton, etc.  

Procedure Of Ivy's Method:

1. Ivy's Method is similar to Duke's method but little difficult than the other.
2. Tie the cuff tightly to the forearm 4 inches above the elbow joint.
3. Then clean the area near the wrist or forearm to be punctured with alcohol swab.
4. Make multiple small incisions to the region.
5. Soon after incisions are made start the stopwatch.
6. Allow the blood to flow freely without external stress.
7. Then blot the filter paper near the region of incisions every 30 seconds.
8. This test terminates when bleeding arrests.
9. After bleeding stops, stop the stopwatch and note the time.
10. This method gives a value of bleeding time.

Advantages Of Bleeding Time:

• It helps to study the hemorrhagic disorders.
• Bleeding time help to detect the platelet concentration in the blood.
• It provides information to detect bleeding disorders.

Bleeding Time Is Increased Due To:

• Afibrinogenemia
• Liver disease
• Thrombocytopenia
• Aplastic anemia
• Von-Willibrand's disease
• Platelet dysfunction

Precautions:

• Use of proper antiseptics prior puncture to the skin.
• Lancet or needle should be sterile.
• Time should be noted properly.

Also Read:

• Prothrombin Time (PTT)
• Activated Prothrombin Time (APTT)

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