Fibrinogen
Fibrinogen
The fibrinogen test determines the level of fibrinogen in your blood. Fibrinogen is a liver protein that helps in the clotting of blood in case of vascular or tissue injury. It plays a major role in both bleeding and clotting. A deficiency of fibrinogen indicates abnormal bleeding in the body.
Abnormal levels of fibrinogen may indicate various conditions, like afibrinogenemia (absence of fibrinogen), hypofibrinogenemia (reduced levels of fibrinogen), and hyperfibrinogenaemia (increased fibrinogen levels). Thus, getting a fibrinogen test is recommended if you have any signs of excessive bleeding to detect the amount of fibrinogen activity in your blood and to prevent bleeding-related complications.
Fibrinogen test is also known as Fibrinogen Activity, Fibrinogen Antigen Test, Hypofibrinogenemia Test, Cardiac Fibrinogen, Serum Fibrinogen Test, Plasma Fibrinogen, and Factor 1 Assay
What is the fibrinogen test used for?
Fibrinogen test is used in the diagnosis of:
Bleeding disorders of the gastrointestinal tract
Chronic liver diseases
Congenital bleeding disorders
Disseminated intravascular coagulation or DIC
Heart bypass surgery
Recurrent miscarriages
Symptoms of low fibrinogen:
A few common symptoms of low fibrinogen include:
Bleeding gums
Gastrointestinal tract bleeding
Blood in your urine or stool
Coughing out blood
Frequent nosebleeds
Ruptured spleen
Excessive bruising
Test preparation
No special preparation is required before the fibrinogen test. Ensure your healthcare provider is aware if you are taking any blood thinner medications before the test
Interpretation of the Test Results
The normal range of fibrinogen is given as grams per litre or milligrams per decilitre.
|
Parameters |
Normal Reference Range |
|
Fibrinogen |
2.0 to 4.0 g/L or 200 to 400 mg/dL |
Deviation from normal levels indicates the following:
Higher or lower than normal fibrinogen levels may indicate the following conditions:
· Fibrinogen deficiency
· Bleeding disorders such as haemophilia and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)
· Fibrinolysis (breakdown of fibrin)
Haemorrhage (excess bleeding)
FAQs
How is the fibrinogen test performed?
During this blood test, a healthcare professional will take a small amount of blood from a vein in your arm using a small needle, which is collected in a test tube or vial. This procedure takes no longer than five minutes
What are the risks involved in a fibrinogen test?
This test involves negligible risk. During a blood test, one may experience minor pain or bruising where the needle was inserted, but most symptoms will subside quickly
How long should I wait for my fibrinogen test results?
Test results will be available within a week. You may receive your test results via email or regular mail or you can receive a call from the doctor's office to go over the results of the fibrinogen test or to schedule a follow-up appointment
What factors might affect my fibrinogen test results?
Acute blood loss, stress, severe trauma, burns, aging, obesity, using oral contraceptive pills, insulin resistance, tobacco usage, and pregnancy can affect your test results. So, it is recommended to consult your healthcare provider before fibrinogen testing
Should I provide information about my fibrinogen deficiency to my other healthcare providers?
Yes, you have to provide information about your test results when you consult other healthcare providers because the deficiency of fibrinogen affects the body’s ability to clot effectively during and after any surgical procedures
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