In the article, we will consider the decoding of INR in a blood test.
INR has little to say about a person who is not a he althcare professional. To understand what these letters mean, let's take a look at the features of the blood coagulation system. In addition, we will find out why a test analysis is prescribed, what are its normal values, to whom it is recommended, and in addition, we will find out how often it should be carried out. So, what is the INR norm and what control methods are usually used?
Deciphering the INR in a blood test should only be carried out by a qualified specialist.
What is INR?
Prolonged use of anticoagulants should be accompanied by control of blood clotting. It can be performed in a laboratory by donating blood for testing.
The INR is also decoded in a biochemical blood test.
INR (we are talking about the international normalizedratio) is an important laboratory test that reflects the ratio of the patient's prothrombotic time to the value of this criterion in a he althy person. Such standardization of prothrombin indicators allows doctors to carry out various methods of studying the state of the blood coagulation system to a single, as well as to a generally accepted value. This laboratory study gives stable results that are the same when performing the test in different laboratories. The INR test is approved by various international firms and experts from he alth organizations.
What do you need?
The introduction of INR standards allows for effective control over the quality and safety of therapy for patients who are prescribed drugs to thin the blood (for example, Warfarin along with Sinkumar and Finilin). Anticoagulants are prescribed in the presence of a tendency to increased blood clots, which is observed in many pathologies, for example, in thromboembolic complications, in the presence of coronary insufficiency, myocardial infarction, heart defects, pulmonary embolism, thrombosis, thrombophlebitis, etc.
What does the increase indicate?
An increase in the INR indicates a predisposition to bleeding, and the doctor decides to lower the dosage of anticoagulants. With a decrease in the values of this test, the risk of blood clots increases in the patient. Such indicators indicate the low effectiveness of blood thinning drugs, and the doctora decision is made to increase dosing.
When deciphering the INR in a blood test in adults, they rely on certain norms.
Normal INR
In he althy people, the normal values of the INR study (for both women and men) are in the range from 0.6 to 1.4. As a rule, the following values are fixed: from 0.84 to 1.23, then is closer to unity. When using Warfarin and other anticoagulants, the normal values of this test should be from 2 to 3 units. It is this value that provides reliable prevention of thrombosis. Now let's move on to decoding INR and PTI in a blood test.
PTI is the prothrombin index.
Transcription of analysis: increase
Change in INR values in people who did not take blood thinning drugs indicates all sorts of ongoing pathological disorders in the body. An increase in the INR index greater than one indicates the possible development of such pathologies:
- Presence of congenital pathologies of the coagulation system.
- Vitamin K deficiency in the human body.
- The appearance of liver pathologies.
- Impaired absorption of fats in the intestinal region.
- A side effect of anti-gout medications, as well as some antibiotics, anabolics and steroids.
First of all, such hypocoagulation is extremely dangerous due to the occurrence of internal and external bleeding. INR indicators are critical when deciphering a blood test of more than 6 units. Especiallysuch jumps are dangerous in the presence of hypertension, inflammatory or ulcerative lesions of the digestive system. It is also dangerous for pathologies of the vascular and urinary systems. In such situations, the patient is assigned urgent hospitalization and mandatory treatment.
Interpretation of INR analysis: decrease
A reading below one indicates the possible presence of the following pathologies or laboratory errors:
- The presence of an increase or decrease in hematocrit.
- Increase in antithrombin III.
- Adverse reactions due to the use of contraceptives, glucocorticoids, anticonvulsants or diuretics.
- In the event that blood sampling for research was carried out from a catheter that was in the central vein.
Changes in the INR in patients who took Warfarin or any other anticoagulants indicate the need to adjust the dosage of these drugs. Hypocoagulation (reduced blood clotting and increased INR) can lead to bleeding, and in such cases, the dosage of drugs is reduced.
External bleeding in such cases can be provoked even by minimal mechanical impact or trauma. As for internal bleeding, they are caused (abdominal, uterine, gastric and others) by any disease and physiological process (for example, menstruation). In the presence of hypercoagulability, the patient is at increased risk ofblood clots and it is likely that a serious complication (eg, thrombosis) will occur. In such cases, the dosage of anticoagulants is increased.
We continue to consider the decoding of INR in a blood test in adults and the norm.
Assignment for research on INR and norm indicators
The appointment of a blood test for INR is carried out according to certain indications. The values of the norm of this test may differ depending on the underlying disease of the patient. Indications are usually as follows:
- Preoperative examination of patients. In this case, the norm is usually closer to one (from 0.8 to 1.2, as a rule, from 0.83 to 1.24).
- Use of drugs to thin the blood (for example, "Warfarin"). The norm is from 2 to 3 units.
- In the treatment of PE. The norm is from 2 to 3 units.
- Conditions after aortic valve replacement. The norm is from 2 to 3 units.
- Condition after mitral valve replacement. The norm is from 2.4 to 3.4 units.
- Prophylactic treatment for heart defects. The norm is from 2 to 3 units.
- Treatment of deep vein thrombosis immediately after surgery. From 2 to 3 units is the norm in decryption.
A blood test for INR for women and men who take blood thinning drugs is carried out at certain time intervals, which are set by the doctor individually. At the onset of the disease, when the patient is in the hospital, suchanalyzes are carried out daily. Further, patients are advised to perform INR monitoring once a week, and if the test is stable, the frequency of tests can be reduced to once every three weeks.
It is important to remember that the INR norm in a blood test for men and women is the same when decoding.
When are patients given an emergency INR test?
The following changes in the patient's life or symptoms of hypocoagulation may serve as a reason for prescribing extraordinary tests:
- Having long-term colds or other illnesses.
- Changes in concomitant therapy regimen.
- Changes in lifestyle or diet.
- Sharp climate change.
- The appearance of unmotivated nosebleeds.
- The appearance of bleeding gums along with the formation of hematomas for no reason.
- The occurrence of blood in the urine.
- The presence of prolonged and heavy menstruation in women.
- The appearance of streaks of blood in the sputum, and in addition, in the vomit.
- The occurrence of blood in the stool.
- Against the background of prolonged bleeding from cuts.
- For unexplained tightness, pain and swelling in the joints while taking blood thinners.
Self-decoding of INR and PTI norms in a blood test is strongly discouraged.
Features of medical research
You can not donate blood for this analysis after physiotherapy, strongphysical activity, massage, injections or intravenous infusion. All this can distort the result. When using anticoagulants immediately before the delivery of the biomaterial for the determination of INR, the entire daily dosage of the drug should be taken at about five o'clock in the evening on the eve before the analysis.
For the purpose of research, the biomaterial is taken from a peripheral vein, as in the case of a regular analysis. Blood for INR is taken on an empty stomach, no less than eight hours after eating. True, and fasting more than fourteen hours before passing the study is not worth it.
In a test tube, blood is mixed with a preservative, plasma is separated from the cell sediment, and pure serum is used for subsequent research. Citrate binds calcium ions and prevents blood from clotting. In the laboratory, calcium is added to plasma to neutralize preservatives. In addition, thromboplastin is added and the time required for pure plasma to clot is estimated. This is the prothrombin time. After completing all the tests, the INR is calculated.
Determining the prothrombin time period according to Quick
It is worth noting that some laboratories use more modern methods for assessing coagulation, namely, we are talking about determining the prothrombin time period according to Quick. In this case, several dilutions of plasma are carried out. The procedure takes one business day. In the event that the result is urgently needed, then some laboratories mayprovide one within two hours, but for an additional fee. When treating with indirect coagulants, the patient needs to take INR for clotting once every three weeks. After that, the doctor will select the dose of drugs for the patient, and then the study can be carried out much less frequently, about once every eight weeks.
Where can I decipher the INR norm in a blood test?
Where can I donate blood for INR?
You can conduct such a test in the following ways:
- Get a referral for analysis from the local doctor.
- Perform the test in the office directly with the therapist if he has the necessary equipment.
- Purchase a portable device to determine the INR at home.
It is most convenient to do this test at home, as the patient does not have to visit the clinic very often, donating venous blood and wasting their time waiting in lines. To perform such a test, fresh blood from a finger is needed. A completely painless puncture is performed using a special device, which is a scarifier. Test strips are inserted into a measuring device equipped with a display, onto which a blood sample is applied. After a short period of time, the INR indicator is shown on the display. It is easy, convenient and simple to use such a portable device.
The INR test, according to WHO recommendations, is prescribed for all therapies that require constant monitoring of blood coagulation. It most accurately showscondition of the human circulatory system. This study has been approved by all leading experts in anticoagulant management and antithrombotic therapy.
We reviewed the decoding and norm of INR in a blood test.
