ACT blood test procedure, precautions

The ACT (Activated Clotting Time) blood test is a medical procedure used to measure the time it takes for blood to clot. It is commonly used during surgeries or procedures requiring anticoagulation, such as

• Cardiac bypass,
• Dialysis
• Heparin therapy monitoring

Preparation for act test

1. Patient Information:
   • Verify the patient’s identity.
   • Confirm the procedure with the patient, explaining the test and its purpose.
   • Check for medications that might affect clotting (e.g., heparin).
2. Supplies Needed:
   • Sterile gloves.
   • Antiseptic for skin cleaning (e.g., alcohol wipes).
   • A syringe or lancet (for blood sample collection).
   • A specialized ACT testing device or tube (containing activators such as kaolin, celite, or glass beads).
   • Bandage or gauze.
3. Patient Preparation:
   • Ensure the patient is comfortable and positioned appropriately for venipuncture or fingerstick.
   • If monitoring heparin therapy, timing of the test relative to medication administration is critical.

ACT blood test procedure steps

1. Use aseptic technique to clean the site.
2. Draw blood from a vein or perform a fingerstick using a lancet.
3. The blood sample is exposed to an activator (e.g., kaolin or celite), which speeds up clot formation.
4. Place the sample into the ACT machine or manual heating block, if applicable.
5. Observe and record the clotting time.
6. Normal ACT ranges from 70-120 seconds, but therapeutic ranges vary depending on the procedure (e.g., 150-600 seconds during heparin therapy).

Post-Procedure

1. After sample collection, apply gentle pressure to the puncture site to stop any bleeding.
2. Compare results to the normal or therapeutic range for the specific clinical scenario.
3. Record the procedure, any observations, and the results in the patient’s medical chart.

Precautions:

• Ensure proper handling of the sample to prevent clotting or contamination.
• Repeat the test if results are inconsistent with clinical observations.