PT vs. PTT

KAYBDT6, BSN, RN · Aug 9, 2009

PTT is used to determine how long it takes for blood to clot and it helps us know if a pt is bleeding or have clotting problem. There are some certain drugs that affect the effect of PTT such as ASA, Vit C, antihistamine and Thorazine. PTT is done on pt who have bleeding disorder. PTT helps determine the efficacy of heparin.

al7139, ASN, RN · Aug 9, 2009

Hi,

I hope I can help:

PT is used to evaluate the extrinsic coagulation system. That is to screen for deficiency of factors I, II, V, VII, and X. It monitors oral anticoagulant therapy (Coumadin). It can also be used to determine the effects of liver failure and DIC and Vit K deficiency. You probably are most familiar with the INR, which is a mathematical calculation of the PT used to monitor therapeutic levels of Coumadin (usually 2.0 to 3.0).

The PTT, or aPTT, is a test used to determine hereditary or acquired bleeding disorders, and also used to monitor and reach therapeutic levels when a patient is on a Heparin drip. The dose of Heparin is adjusted based on the PTT result.

Amy

czarnowski · May 3, 2010

...to be able to differentiate which drug PT and PTT are used for that I have found helpful:

When you write ptt the two letter Ts form an H, H is for Heparin.

Soo.. if you remember ptt is for heparin then pt belongs to warfarin...

I know this doesn't explain the difference between the two but hopefully it can help someone remember which one goes with which drug..

Before someone gave me this trick I couldn't remember which one went with which drug for the world.. Now it is a piece of cake...

yum...

KDS1313 · Oct 10, 2010

god knows we need all the tricks we can get! :yeah:

dlampkin · Sep 13, 2011

A friend just gave it to me like this (for the drugs). Pt is Coumadin (warfarin), ptt is heparin. Soldiers do PT and go to WAR...

helps me remember the two as well...:):)

KDS1313 · Sep 13, 2011

Sweet! I need little things like that to help me quick remember, thank you!