stollingstesten

Stollingstesten are a set of laboratory tests used to assess the blood’s ability to form a clot. They evaluate the coagulation cascade, platelet function, and fibrinolysis, and are employed to diagnose bleeding disorders, thrombotic risk, and to monitor anticoagulant therapy. The tests are typically performed on plasma or whole blood samples collected in citrate and analyzed in a clinical laboratory.

Common assays include prothrombin time (PT) and the international normalized ratio (INR), which assess the extrinsic pathway and are frequently used to monitor vitamin K–antagonist therapy; activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), which evaluates the intrinsic pathway and is used to monitor heparin therapy; thrombin time (TT), which measures the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin; and measurements of fibrinogen levels and specific coagulation factors. Platelet count and specialized tests for platelet function or von Willebrand disease may also be performed. D-dimer is commonly used to help assess ongoing coagulation and fibrinolysis in suspected thrombosis.

In addition to conventional plasma-based tests, viscoelastic tests such as thromboelastography (TEG) and rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) provide a global assessment of clot formation and breakdown in whole blood and can guide bleeding management in surgical or trauma settings.

Indications for stollingstesten include preoperative screening, evaluation of suspected bleeding or coagulation disorders, monitoring of anticoagulant therapy, assessment of liver disease impact on hemostasis, and diagnosis of inherited bleeding disorders such as hemophilia or von Willebrand disease. Pre-analytic factors and laboratory variability can influence results, and tests may not capture all aspects of hemostasis.