<unk>  is a medical test done on someone to assess their platelet function.
It involves cutting the underside of the subject's forearm, in an area where there is no hair or visible veins. The cut is of a standardized width and depth, and is done quickly by an automatic device.
A blood pressure cuff is used above the wound, to maintain venous pressure at a special value. The<unk>  it takes for bleeding to stop (as thus the<unk>  it takes for a platelet plug to form) is measured. Cessation of bleeding can be determined by blotting away the blood every several seconds until the site looks 'glassy'.<unk>  is affected by platelet function, certain vascular disorders and von Willebrand Disease--not by other coagulation factors such as haemophilia.  Diseases that cause prolonged<unk>  include thrombocytopenia and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).
Aspirin and other cyclooxygenase inhibitors can prolong<unk>  significantly.  While warfarin and heparin have their major effects on coagulation factors, an increased<unk>  is sometimes seen with use of these medications as well.
People with von Willebrand disease usually experience increased<unk> , as von Willebrand factor is a platelet agglutination protein, but this is not considered an effective diagnostic test for this condition.
Normal values fall between 2 - 9 minutes depending on the method used.
Bleeding time
Activated clotting time
Prothrombin time
International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis bleeding scale
Partial thromboplastin time
IMPROVE bleeding risk score
Fibrin degradation product
FibroTest