Kaolin Clotting Time Test

The kaolin clotting time test is used to detect circulating anticoagulants in your body. In fact, it is one of the most sensitive tests for detecting lupus anticoagulants. Lupus anticoagulants are antibodies against the phospholipids that prevent blood clotting. So an increase in the amount of lupus anticoagulants would mean you have a high risk of forming blood clots. It can detect inhibitors (factor VIII) and unfractionated heparin (blood thinning medicine) also. This test measures the time taken for your blood to clot, but it does not use phospholipid.

No special preparation is required for the test. Wear a half sleeves shirt preferably, or roll up the sleeves if you are wearing a full sleeves shirt. The assigned nurse or doctor will draw your blood from the vein and a brand new syringe would be used. There is no need to alter your diet for this, unless the doctor tells you to.

It is used in detection of circulating anticoagulants. It also detects all class of inhibitors, (even the ones against factor VIII) It also detects presence of unfractionated heparin (an anticoagulant) As mentioned above, it is the most sensitive test for detecting lupus anticoagulants. Ultimately, it gives the time taken for the blood to clot in your body.

A syringe i.e. 2-3 spoonful of blood will be taken from you A cotton dipped in alcohol will be used to clean the surface of the skin from where the blood will be drawn. A brand new syringe will be used to draw the blood. As soon as the blood is taken, cotton will be given to hold on the injected area to help clotting. The sample is carried to the lab for further testing.