This test includes prothrombin time plus INR and it measures how long it takes your blood to clot. It’s used to monitor the effects of the medication warfarin, and can help identify possible hereditary and clotting disorders. This test does not require fasting. Prothrombin Time (PT) is a blood test used in the evaluation of the extrinsic coagulation system; aid in screening for congenital and acquired deficiencies of factors II, V, VII, X, and fibrinogen. This test is used clinically for the therapeutic monitoring of warfarin (Coumadin®) anticoagulant therapy.

Quest Diagnostics test code 17911 is for a DNA mutation analysis of Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR). The test determines if a patient has one, two, or no copies of either of the two mutations in the MTHFR gene, C677T and A1298C.

Changes in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene can lead to certain health conditions. One of them is hyperhomocysteinemia (high blood levels of homocysteine), which is a risk factor for cerebrovascular disease, cerebral vein thrombosis, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, and venous thrombosis. At least 40 mutations in the MTHFR gene have been identified in people with homocystinuria, a disorder in which the body is unable to process certain amino acids properly.

This high sensitivity CRP test is used along other blood markers to assess a patient's potential risk for cardiovascular disease. To illustrate the difference between CRP and hs-CRP, traditional testing measures CRP (quantitative) within the range of 10 to 1,000 mg/L, whereas hs-CRP values range from 0.5 to 10 mg/L. In simpler terms, hs-CRP measures trace amounts of CRP in the blood. Hs-CRP is the analyte of choice for cardiovascular risk assessment

The tests are usually ordered for patients prior to surgery to ensure normal clotting ability.  The PT and PTT Blood Tests are useful in the diagnosis of excessive, unexplained bleeding in patients who are not taking blood-thinning medications. These bleeding disorders include conditions such as nosebleeds, bruising, heavy menstrual periods, blood in the stool and/or urine, and bleeding gums, among others,

Elevated levels of homocysteine in the blood, known as hyperhomocysteinemia, have been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke. High homocysteine levels may also be associated with an increased risk of certain other health conditions, such as osteoporosis and pregnancy complications.