In the article, we consider the interpretation of INR in a blood test.
INR can tell little about a person who is not a medical professional. To understand what these letters mean, then we will get acquainted with the features of the coagulating blood 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 learn how often it should be performed. So, what is the norm of INR and what control methods are usually used?
The decoding of 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 coagulation. It can be performed in the laboratory, donating blood for analysis.
They also decipher INR in a biochemical blood test.
INR (we are talking about the international normalized ratio) is an important laboratory test that reflects the ratio of the index of the patient’s prone time to the value of this criterion in a healthy person. Such standardization of prothrombin indices allows doctors to conduct various methods of studying the state of the blood coagulation system to a single, as well as to a generally accepted value. This laboratory test gives consistent results that are the same when performing the test in different laboratories. The INR test has been approved by various international firms and experts from healthcare organizations.
Why is it necessary?
The introduction of INR standards allows effective monitoring of the quality and safety of therapy for patients who are prescribed drugs to thin the blood (for example, Warfarin along with Sincumar and Finilin). Anticoagulants are prescribed if there is a tendency to increased blood clots, which is observed in many pathologies, for example, with 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 INR indicates a predisposition to bleeding, and the doctor decides to lower the dosage of anticoagulants. By lowering the values of this test, the patient increases the risk of blood clots. Such indicators indicate a low effectiveness of blood thinners, and the doctor decides to increase the dosage.
When decoding INR in an analysis of blood in adults, they rely on certain norms.
Norm INR
In healthy people, normal INR studies (in both women and men) range from 0.6 to 1.4. As a rule, such values are fixed: from 0.84 to 1.23, that is, closer to unity. When using "Warfarin" and other anticoagulants, the normal rates 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 IPT in a blood test.
PTI is a prothrombin index.
Decryption analysis: increase
Changing the INR values in people who did not take drugs for the purpose of blood thinning indicates all sorts of pathological disorders in the body. An increase in INR more than one indicates a possible development of such pathologies:
- The presence of congenital pathologies of the coagulation system.
- Vitamin K deficiency in the human body.
- The appearance of liver pathologies.
- Impaired absorption of fat in the intestinal region.
- A side effect of anti-gout drugs, and in addition, some antibiotics, anabolics and steroids.
First of all, such hypocoagulation is extremely dangerous for the occurrence of internal and external bleeding. The INR indicators are critical when decoding a blood test of more than 6 units. Especially dangerous are such jumps 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 compulsory treatment.
Decoding INR analysis: downgrade
A decrease in indicators below unity indicates the possible presence of the following pathologies or laboratory errors:
- The presence of an increase or decrease in hematocrit.
- An increase in the amount of antithrombin III.
- Adverse reactions with the use of contraceptives, glucocorticoids, anticonvulsants or diuretics.
- In the event that the blood sampling for the study was performed from a catheter, which was located in the central vein.
A change in the INR indicator in patients who took Warfarin or any other anticoagulants suggests the need for dosage adjustment of these drugs. Hypocoagulation (lowering 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 (cavity, uterine, gastric and others) by any disease and physiological process (for example, menstruation). In the presence of hypercoagulation, the patient is at increased risk of blood clots and a serious complication (e.g., thrombosis) is likely. In such cases, the dosage of anticoagulants is increased.
We continue to consider the interpretation of INR in the analysis of blood in adults and the norm.
Appointment for conducting research on INR and norm indicators
The appointment of a blood test for INR is carried out according to certain indications. The norm values of this test may vary depending on the underlying disease of the patient. Indications are usually as follows:
- Conducting a preoperative examination of patients. The norm in this case is usually closer to unity (from 0.8 to 1.2, as a rule, from 0.83 to 1.24).
- The use of drugs to dilute blood (for example, "Warfarin"). The norm is from 2 to 3 units.
- In the treatment of pulmonary embolism. 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.
- Preventive treatment in the presence of 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 decoding.
A blood test for INR for women and men who take drugs for blood liquefaction is performed at certain time intervals, which the doctor sets individually. At the beginning of the disease, when the patient is in the hospital, such tests are performed daily. Further, patients are recommended to perform INR monitoring once a week, and if the test indicator is stable, the frequency of tests can be reduced to once every three weeks.
It is important to remember that the norm of INR in the analysis of blood in men during decoding and in women is the same.
In what cases are patients prescribed an extraordinary INR test?
The reason for the appointment of extraordinary tests may be the following changes in the patient's life or the symptoms of hypocoagulation:
- The presence of prolonged colds or other diseases.
- Changes in concomitant therapy regimen.
- Changes in lifestyle or diet.
- A sharp change in climate.
- The appearance of unmotivated nosebleeds.
- The appearance of bleeding gums along with the causeless formation of hematomas.
- The appearance of blood in the urine.
- The presence of prolonged and heavy menstruation in women.
- The appearance of streaks of blood in sputum, and in addition, in vomit.
- The appearance of blood in the feces.
- Against the background of prolonged bleeding with cuts.
- With unexplained seals, pain and swelling in the joints as part of taking blood thinners.
Self-decoding of INR and IPT standards in a blood test is categorically not recommended.
Features of a medical study
You can not donate blood for this analysis after physiotherapeutic procedures, strong physical exertion, massage, injections or intravenous infusion. All this can distort the result. When using anticoagulants immediately before taking the biomaterial for the determination of INR, the entire daily dosage of the drug should be taken at about five in the evening the day before analysis.
For research purposes, the biomaterial is taken from the peripheral vein, as in the routine analysis. Blood is donated on an empty stomach, not less than eight hours after a meal. True, you should not starve for more than fourteen hours before undergoing the study.
In vitro, the blood is mixed with a preservative, the plasma is separated from the cell pellet, and pure serum is used for subsequent testing. Calcium ions bind with citrate, and it does not allow blood to clot. In the laboratory, calcium is added to plasma to neutralize preservatives. In addition, thromboplastin is added and the time required for coagulation of pure plasma is estimated. This is prothrombin time. After all the tests are completed, INRs are calculated.
Determination of the prothrombin time period by 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 plasma dilutions are performed. The procedure takes one business day. In the event that the result is urgently needed, then in some laboratories they can provide it within two hours, but for an additional fee. During therapy with indirect coagulants, the patient needs to take INR for coagulation once every three weeks. After that, the doctor will select the dose of the patient for the patient, and then the study can be done much less frequently, about once every eight weeks.
Where can I decrypt the INR norm in a blood test?
Where can I donate blood for INR?
You can carry out such a test in the following ways:
- Get a referral for analysis at the local doctor.
- A test is carried out in the office directly with the therapist if he has the necessary equipment.
- A portable device is purchased 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 spending his time waiting in lines. To perform this test, you need fresh blood from your finger. A completely painless puncture is performed using a special device, which acts as a scarifier. In the measuring device, equipped with a display, insert test strips on which a blood sample is applied. After a short period of time, the INR indicator is displayed. Using such a portable device is easy, convenient and simple.
An INR test according to WHO recommendations is prescribed for all therapies that require constant monitoring of blood coagulation. It most accurately shows the state of the human circulatory system. This study was approved by all leading experts in the control of anticoagulant therapy and antithrombotic treatment.
We examined the transcript and norm of INR in a blood test.