When caring for a patient taking warfarin, which laboratory data would alert the nurse to the effectiveness of the medication?
A) Partial thromboplastin time (PTT)
B) Prothrombin time (PT)
C) International normalization ratio (INR)
D) Activated coagulation time
C) International normalization ratio (INR)
Explanation: A) Increased levels of partial thromboplastin time (PTT) indicate prolonged bleeding. Particularly prolonged bleeding is associated with changes in the levels of select clotting factors, primarily Factors II, V, IX, X, XI, and XII.
B) Increased levels of prothrombin time (PT) indicate prolonger bleeding. Examines Factors II (prothrombin), V, VII, X, and fibrinogen.
C) The international normalization ratio (INR) measures the therapeutic effectiveness of warfarin, a common oral anticoagulant.
D) Activated coagulation time measures the number of seconds for clotting of whole blood on exposure to an activator of the intrinsic pathway.
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