T Watson P, MA, B; S Wattley SOC, PS; H Webster MS; J Webster E*, ME*, EL*, H; S White AD; J Whiteley PY, B, C; T Whiteley TT, TH; L Whitley BUS, SOC, MM; O Whittell P, MA, MS; C Whitwam PY, E/EL, ME*; A Whitworth MM; O Widdop PY*, SOC*, E*; C Wilcock PY, EL; M Wilford PY, ME, EL; I Wilinsky EL, PS, H, MM; B Wilkinson AD, ME.
Prothrombin time (PT) Prothrombin time (PT) is a blood test that measures the time it takes for the liquid portion (plasma) of your blood to clot. A related blood test is partial thromboplastin time (PTT). A blood sample is needed. If you are taking ant blood-thinning medicines, you will be watched for signs of bleeding.
An abnormal prothrombin time is often caused by liver disease or injury or by treatment with blood thinners. Another blood clotting test, called partial thromboplastin time (PTT), might be used if you take another type of blood-thinning medicine called heparin. This test measures other clotting factors.itamin K is needed to make prothrombin and other clotting factors. Prothrombin time is an important test because it checks to see if five different blood clotting factors (factors I, II, V, VII, and X) are present. The prothrombin time is made longer by: 1  Blood-thinning medicine, such as warfarin.