Encyclopedia of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants

        

BLEEDING TIME

 

 

AIM

 

To determine the bleeding time of a subject.

Requirements:

Sterile lancet, cotton, rectified spirit, filter paper, stop watch.

 

Procedure:

 

Duke’s method: Sterilize the finger tip using rectified spirit and allow to dry. Make a sufficiently deep prick using a sterile lancet, so that blood comes out freely without squeezing. Note the time (start the stop-watch) when bleeding starts. Mop the blood by touching the finger tip with a filter paper. This is repeated every 15 seconds, each time using a fresh portion of the filter paper, till bleeding stops. Note the time (stop the stop-watch). It is seen that the blood stains on the filter paper get smaller to disappear finally when bleeding stops.

 

Discussion:

 

Bleeding time is the interval between the moment when bleeding starts and the moment when bleeding stops. Normal bleeding time (Duke’s method) is ito 4 minutes. Bleeding time is prolonged in purpuras, but normal in coagulation disorders like haemophilia. Purpuras can be due to

 

1. Platelet defects - Thrombocytopenic purpura.

1. Primary (Idiopathic) - Thrombocytopenic purpura

2. Secondary - Thrombocytopenic purpura

2. Vascular defects - Senile purpura

Henoch Schonlein purpura

Platelets are important in preventing small vessel bleeding by causing vaso constriction and platelet plug formation.

 

Other method:

 

Ivy’s method: Apply the sphygmomanometer cuff to the arm. Raise the cuff pressure and maintain at 40 mm of Hg. Under sterile conditions make a deep prick on the forearm just below the elbow. Bleeding time is noted as in Duke’s method.

Normal value is2 to 7 minutes

 

Questions:

1. What is bleeding time?

2. What are the methods of measuring bleeding time?

Result:

 

 

 

CLOTTING TIME

 

AIM

 

To determine the clotting time of a subject.

 

Requirements:

 

Fine capillary glass tubes of about 10 mm length, cotton, rectified spirit, lancet, stop watch.

Procedure:

 

Capillary tube method: (Wright’s method)

 

Under sterile precautions make a sufficiently deep prick in the finger tip. Note the time when bleeding starts (start the stop watch). Touch the blood drop at the finger tip using one end of the capillary tube kept tilted downwards. The tube gets easily filled by capillary action. After about two minutes start snapping off small lengths of the tube, at intervals of 15 seconds, each time noting whether the fibrin thread is formed between the snapped ends. Note the time (stop the stop watch) when the fibrin thread is first seen.

 

Discussion:

 

Clotting time is the interval between the moment when bleeding starts and the moment when the fibrin thread is first seen.

Normal value is 3to 10 minutes.

 

Bleeding time and clotting time are not the same. Bleeding time depends on the integrity of platelets and vessel walls, whereas clotting time depends on the availability of coagulation factors. In coagulation disorders like haemophilia, clotting time is prolonged but bleeding time remains normal.

 

Clotting time is also prolonged in conditions like vitamin K deficiency, liver diseases, disseminated intravascular coagulation, overdosage of anticoagulants etc.

 

Other method:

 

Modified Lee and White method:

 

Under aseptic precaution venepuncture is done and one ml. of blood is collected in each 3 small test tubes. Note the time when blood is taken. Keep the test tube in a water bath maintained at 37°c. Tilt the tubes every 30 seconds and see whether the blood is flowing. Repeat this till the tube can be inverted without the blood flowing out. Nore the time. Average value of the results in the 3 test tubes gives the clotting time.

Normal value is2 to 7 minutes

 

RESULT: