BT – BLEEDING TIME

The Bleeding Time (BT) test, once a key tool in predicting surgery-related bleeding risks, has seen a decline in use in the UK, primarily due to challenges in standardization and notable variability. The traditional Ivy method, employing a blood pressure cuff, a disposable lancet, and precise timing, demonstrated difficulties that prompted the development of the Template Method, aiming for standardization with an automatic blade. However, the core technique remains largely unchanged. Historical approaches, like the Duke Method utilizing the earlobe, have been abandoned due to the earlobe’s high vascularity. Concerns about scarring and the need for precision have reduced the frequency of the Bleeding Time test, especially in pediatric cases, highlighting the evolving landscape of diagnostic practices in Hypro Diagnostics.