redmesa
Senior Nomad
Posts: 580
Registered: 3-12-2008
Location: Van Isle and Bahia Asuncion
Member Is Offline
|
|
Lab Test?
You guys know so much so here is my question....Can I get an INR test done at the lab in Guerrero Negro. I take blood thinners and have to be tested
every 2 weeks.
|
|
|
ncampion
Super Nomad
Posts: 1238
Registered: 4-15-2006
Location: Loreto
Member Is Offline
Mood: Retired and Loving it
|
|
A Prothrombin Time and calculated INR are basisc lab tests that even a small lab should be able to do for you.
|
|
|
Pescador
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3587
Registered: 10-17-2002
Location: Baja California Sur
Member Is Offline
|
|
Mike, you can get the test and it is called something like Tiempo de Thrombosis. The results are not in INR time and need to be converted, but you
home doctor should be able to do the conversion. We had to do weekly tests with Marika and once we learned how to do the conversion everything went
really smoothly.
|
|
|
shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13052
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
|
|
there is a lab in Vizcaino too....and maybe we can set something up for you at the local hospital here so you wouldnt have to go out (unless you want
to go to the segundas anyway!)...they do lab stuff once a week and send it in to GN lab.
|
|
|
EnsenadaDr
Banned
Posts: 5027
Registered: 9-12-2011
Location: Baja California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Move on. It is just a chapter in the past, but don't close the book- just turn the page
|
|
INR and TTP are NOT the same
INR stands for International Normalized Ratio and TTP is the same as PTT in the US which stands for Prothrombin Time..they are NOT the same test..they
both measure two different coagulation factors on the coagulation cascade...and as was mentioned here correctly, is available at any lab worth its
weight in sangre!!! | Quote: | Originally posted by Pescador
Mike, you can get the test and it is called something like Tiempo de Thrombosis. The results are not in INR time and need to be converted, but you
home doctor should be able to do the conversion. We had to do weekly tests with Marika and once we learned how to do the conversion everything went
really smoothly. |
|
|
|
EnsenadaDr
Banned
Posts: 5027
Registered: 9-12-2011
Location: Baja California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Move on. It is just a chapter in the past, but don't close the book- just turn the page
|
|
INR every two weeks
Hi Mike,
An INR every two weeks seems a bit excessive...once a month is all they do in the US and that is quite sufficient... | Quote: | Originally posted by redmesa
You guys know so much so here is my question....Can I get an INR test done at the lab in Guerrero Negro. I take blood thinners and have to be tested
every 2 weeks. |
|
|
|
wessongroup
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21152
Registered: 8-9-2009
Location: Mission Viejo
Member Is Offline
Mood: Suicide Hot line ... please hold
|
|
Thanks Doc... 
|
|
|
redmesa
Senior Nomad
Posts: 580
Registered: 3-12-2008
Location: Van Isle and Bahia Asuncion
Member Is Offline
|
|
Thanks to all. I am not sure who Mike is but we are not Mike. Mike is a fine name and I like Mike.
|
|
|
ncampion
Super Nomad
Posts: 1238
Registered: 4-15-2006
Location: Loreto
Member Is Offline
Mood: Retired and Loving it
|
|
As Snopes would say, "Mostly correct". INR is a calculation based on the results of a Prothrombin Time (or PT) test, which corrects the result to an
international standard so differect test sytems can be correlated by your doctor. That is different from the PTT test (sometimes called APTT)which
stands for Partial Thromboplastin Time test (or Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time) which measures a different part of the coagulation sequence, as
stated. The PT/INR is used to monitor Coumadin (or Warfarin) therapy taken orally, while the PTT test is used to monitor heparin therapy which is
given IV, not at home. This comes from someone who was a Clinical Laboratory Director for 25 years. Not sure this made things clearer or muddier,
but in any case from my experience, you should be able to get the proper test in any lab in Baja
| Quote: | Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
INR stands for International Normalized Ratio and TTP is the same as PTT in the US which stands for Prothrombin Time..they are NOT the same test..they
both measure two different coagulation factors on the coagulation cascade...and as was mentioned here correctly, is available at any lab worth its
weight in sangre!!! |
|
|
|
EnsenadaDr
Banned
Posts: 5027
Registered: 9-12-2011
Location: Baja California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Move on. It is just a chapter in the past, but don't close the book- just turn the page
|
|
You are correct..
I remembered that PTT you used for Heparin calculation, and PT/INR for Coumadin..and that each one took a different pathway..I failed to look up the
correct abbreviation for PTT...The prothrombin time (PT) and its derived measures of prothrombin ratio (PR) and international normalized ratio (INR)
are measures of the extrinsic pathway of coagulation. This test is also called "ProTime INR" and "INR PT". They are used to determine the clotting
tendency of blood, in the measure of warfarin dosage, liver damage, and vitamin K status. PT measures factors I, II, V, VII, and X. It is used in
conjunction with the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) which measures the intrinsic pathway..glad to have reviewed it, thanks!!!
As Snopes would say, "Mostly correct". INR is a calculation based on the results of a Prothrombin Time (or PT) test, which corrects the result to an
international standard so differect test sytems can be correlated by your doctor. That is different from the PTT test (sometimes called APTT)which
stands for Partial Thromboplastin Time test (or Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time) which measures a different part of the coagulation sequence, as
stated. The PT/INR is used to monitor Coumadin (or Warfarin) therapy taken orally, while the PTT test is used to monitor heparin therapy which is
given IV, not at home. This comes from someone who was a Clinical Laboratory Director for 25 years. Not sure this made things clearer or muddier,
but in any case from my experience, you should be able to get the proper test in any lab in Baja
| Quote: | Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
INR stands for International Normalized Ratio and TTP is the same as PTT in the US which stands for Prothrombin Time..they are NOT the same test..they
both measure two different coagulation factors on the coagulation cascade...and as was mentioned here correctly, is available at any lab worth its
weight in sangre!!! |
[Edited on 1-10-2012 by EnsenadaDr]
|
|
|
BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13242
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
Member Is Offline
|
|
Les was getting his INR tested weekly at the lab in punta abreojos 2 years ago when he had heart trouble.
|
|
|
EnsenadaDr
Banned
Posts: 5027
Registered: 9-12-2011
Location: Baja California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Move on. It is just a chapter in the past, but don't close the book- just turn the page
|
|
Weekly INRs
what I have seen in my experience is that a hospitalized patient will get his INR adjusted in the hospital and then follow as an outpatient every
month...I'd like to hear from the lab manager on his experiences on outpatient INR's.... | Quote: | Originally posted by BajaBlanca
Les was getting his INR tested weekly at the lab in punta abreojos 2 years ago when he had heart trouble. |
|
|
|
redmesa
Senior Nomad
Posts: 580
Registered: 3-12-2008
Location: Van Isle and Bahia Asuncion
Member Is Offline
|
|
Thanks Blanca...close to home and first hand knowledge. You can not beat that! With luck we may see you soon.
|
|
|
ncampion
Super Nomad
Posts: 1238
Registered: 4-15-2006
Location: Loreto
Member Is Offline
Mood: Retired and Loving it
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
what I have seen in my experience is that a hospitalized patient will get his INR adjusted in the hospital and then follow as an outpatient every
month...I'd like to hear from the lab manager on his experiences on outpatient INR's.... | Quote: | Originally posted by BajaBlanca
Les was getting his INR tested weekly at the lab in punta abreojos 2 years ago when he had heart trouble. |
|
I agree with this. However it usually takes about 48 - 72 hours for a dosage change to affect the INR so it is sometimes difficult to get the INR
stabilized during a hospital stay. Not unusual for a patient to get weekly INR's for the first month or so until it gets stabilized, then monthly is
generally fine. Individual response to Coumadin is quite variable and getting it adjusted is somewhat of an art. Best to follow what your Dr. says
carefully as the negative consequences can be significant.
|
|
|
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
