Fibrinogen is a protein that is associated with the functioning of the clotting mechanism in human beings. It is a protein that is produced in the liver, an organ that performs multiple different functions and is essential for the human being to live. The plasma fibrinogen test is usually ordered as part of a series of blood tests to examine the clotting mechanism of an individual when there are symptoms to suggest that it is not functioning properly. The symptoms that prompt the conduction of the plasma fibrinogen test include excessive bleeding and excessive development of blood clots, particularly clots that form without any reason. Excessive bleeding is a dangerous condition as it could lead to the loss of large amounts of blood, even from a small wound.
The doctor would normally recommend a plasma fibrinogen test if coagulation of blood seems to be abnormal in the patient. The plasma fibrinogen test is conducted using a sample of blood that is collected from a vein in the upper forearm. The blood collection procedure is relatively painless with only a prick being felt when the needle is inserted into the vein to draw the blood. Usually, enough blood is drawn to conduct a number of different tests which are used to determine various factors that are related to the coagulation of blood and the formation of clots. There is no preparation required for a plasma fibrinogen test. The patient can present to the clinic and leave after the test has been conducted. It should be noted that an individual suffering from symptoms of excessive bleeding should make sure that adequate strapping is given to the needle wound to prevent it from bleeding excessively.
The normal results in a plasma fibrinogen test are 200-400 milligrams per deciliter of blood. The plasma fibrinogen test determination helps to show the quantity of fibrinogen in the blood plasma. This level corresponds to the ability of the individual’s blood to clot when required. A deficiency naturally means that there is an impaired ability for the blood to clot. If the levels of fibrinogen in a plasma fibrinogen test are consistently low, then it indicates an inability of the patient’s body to produce adequate fibrinogen as a result of some genetic defect that has been received from either or both parents. It should be noted that plasma fibrinogen test results are affected by acute phases in the body. This means that infections and inflammations would lead to high levels of fibrinogen or, possibly normal levels in people who are otherwise deficient.