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This is a test that measures the euglobulin lysis time in blood. The euglobulin lysis time is a measure of the activity of the fibrinolytic (clot-breakdown) system.

How the Test is Performed

Adult or child:
Blood is drawn from a vein (venipuncture), usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The puncture site is cleaned with antiseptic, and a tourniquet (an elastic band) or blood pressure cuff is placed around the upper arm to apply pressure and restrict blood flow through the vein. This causes veins below the tourniquet to distend (fill with blood). A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. During the procedure, the tourniquet is removed to restore circulation. Once the blood has been collected, the needle is removed, and the puncture site is covered to stop any bleeding.

Infant or young child:
The area is cleansed with antiseptic and punctured with a sharp needle or a lancet. The blood may be collected in a pipette (small glass tube), on a slide, onto a test strip, or into a small container. Cotton or a bandage may be applied to the puncture site if there is any continued bleeding.

Laboratory technique:
Fibrin that is formed in the euglobulin fraction of plasma is normally very rapidly dissolved by plasmin. The time measured from clot formation to clot lysis (dissolution) is referred to as the euglobulin lysis time.

How to Prepare for the Test

Adults:
No special preparation is usually necessary. (See "Special considerations".)

Infants and children:
The physical and psychological preparation you can provide for this or any test or procedure depends on your child's age, interests, previous experiences, and level of trust. For specific information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics as they correspond to your child's age:

Infant test or procedure preparation (birth to 1 year)

Toddler test or procedure preparation (1 to 3 years)

Preschooler test or procedure preparation (3 to 6 years)

Schoolage test or procedure preparation (6 to 12 years)

Adolescent test or procedure preparation (12 to 18 years)

How the Test will Feel

When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain, while others feel only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.

Why the Test is Performed

This is one of the best tests to differentiate primary fibrinolysis from DIC (disseminated intravascular coagulation). The test can also be used to monitor streptokinase or urokinase therapy in patients with acute MI (heart attack).

The euglobulin lysis test evaluates fibrinolysis (that is, the dissolution of a blood clot). The fibrinolytic system normally breaks down small fibrin deposits. When this system is abnormally overactive, any fibrin clot that is formed will be rapidly dissolved, thereby resulting in a bleeding tendency.

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