Von Willebrand Disease Hub

General Details of Digital Diagnostic Approaches

Digital diagnostics in healthcare is a blossoming area that covers a wide variety of diagnostic tests and analysis that continues to expand in new ways. In fact, digital diagnostics can include blood tests, biopsies, imaging, genetic testing, and remote monitoring of vital signs and organ function. Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used to process and analyze digital diagnostic testing, which generates multiple benefits of reducing the percentage of errors in test results, decreasing some tedious test interpretation tasks, and increasing face-to-face time for patients with their healthcare professionals. In addition, expanding the use of digital diagnostics can help create more equitable care for marginalized patients both in the U.S. and around the world.

Disparities of Digital Diagnostic Approaches

Some medical research studies have analyzed the link between diagnostic errors and health care disparities. One example of these studies includes increased likelihood of misdiagnosis using genetic testing with patient diagnostic tools that were created with less diverse patient populations. Another example includes a research study that concluded that Black patients were more likely to be underdiagnosed with depression compared to their white counterparts in cases when they visited their primary care clinics for mental health concerns.

Why This Matters

Diagnostic errors that lead to underdiagnosis and misdiagnosis of patient conditions may lead to reduced quality of life and even higher death rates for some conditions. Standardized digital diagnostic approaches can be a powerful tool in moving toward equitable medical diagnostic testing and care for all. As diagnostic data for all patient populations becomes more readily available, analysis and, in turn, patient diagnosis and care will become more refined for improved care no matter patient gender, geographic location, socioeconomic status, or racial or ethnic background. A wide range of medical conditions can benefit from more timely and accurate diagnosis including conditions such as lung cancer, breast cancer, genetic abnormalities discovered during prenatal care, and heart defects and conditions.

Call to Action

Digital diagnostic approaches are essential for moving toward equitable care for all patients. Any patient advocates who want to advocate for improved care can write to their congresspeople to support standardized diagnostic testing for all. During your next visit to your healthcare professional, ask them how digital diagnostics are assisting them in patient care.

Brooke Whitaker, DCLS, MLS(ASCP)cm is a doctor of clinical laboratory science. You can find her on Twitter: @BrookeW74021416.

Definition

General Details of PTT Blood Test

The PTT (Partial Thromboplastin Time) blood test is used to help evaluate a patient’s ability to form blood clots by measuring how long it takes clots to form. A healthcare professional may order a PTT blood test for patients who are experiencing unexplained blood clots, unexplained bleeding, or recurring miscarriages. PTT blood tests are used in a variety of medical situations including preparation before surgeries, investigation of a variety of blood disorders or other conditions that involve unusual bleeding or blood clotting, monitoring for those on anti-clotting therapies, and women who experience recurrent miscarriages. Depending on PTT blood test results; medications, blood transfusions, or other treatment may be prescribed to adjust blood clotting function or other medical conditions. Conditions that commonly have an abnormal PTT blood test level include hemophilia A, hemophilia B, von Willebrand disease, lupus, liver disease, leukemia, some types of cancer, and vitamin K deficiency.

Disparities of PTT Blood Test

During the COVID-19 pandemic health emergency, there was a shortage of “blue top” blood test tubes that led to a 29 percent decrease in the ordering of a blood-clotting test that analyzes PT/INR and PTT. While this major decrease in PTT testing cut out some unnecessary testing that occurred, it could also decrease the frequency of testing for some patients with medical conditions that need frequent monitoring.

Why This Matters

If healthcare professionals continue with reduced use of PTT blood tests, it’s possible that some patients with medical conditions like hemophilia A, hemophilia B, von Willebrand disease, lupus, liver disease, leukemia, some types of cancer, and vitamin K deficiency won’t receive the care they need. As a result, some conditions may go undiagnosed or will have a delayed response to PTT levels that need urgent response with treatment. Although a small study at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center showed that patients with blood clotting disorders did not suffer any negative consequences from the procedural changes for blood tests, additional research studies are needed to examine any possible disparities in care for patients who receive regular monitoring with PTT blood tests during the shortage.

Call to Action

If you are a patient with a medical condition that needs regular monitoring with PTT blood tests and feel your testing frequency is inadequate, ask your healthcare professional about their reasoning for not ordering a PTT blood test. There may be alternative methods for blood test collection if alternatives are needed.

Brooke Whitaker, DCLS, MLS(ASCP)cm is a doctor of clinical laboratory science. You can find her on Twitter: @BrookeW74021416