How is the quick value measured? | Quick value

How is the quick value measured?

The quick value is measured after taking venous blood in a special tube containing citrate. Citrate causes an immediate solution of calcium, an important component of blood clotting. The blood is warmed to body temperature in the laboratory and the same amount of calcium is added as before.

Now the coagulation is activated by adding substances and the time until a blood clot appears is measured. Once the time required for the blood to clot has been determined, it is compared to the clotting time of the blood in a healthy normal population. Since different laboratories use different aids, it is possible that the results may differ in comparison, so the quick value is converted to the standardized INR value.

Quick value measuring device for at home

Since the control of the required Quick value for a Marcumar® intake always requires an adjustment of the dosage, regular checks are essential. This adjustment is necessary because, due to its pharmacological properties, Marcumar® can interact with various drugs, which can trigger an increase or decrease in effectiveness. To ensure close control of the quick-value in responsible patients, measuring devices can also be used in the home environment.

The closer the value is monitored, the better dose adjustment can be made and the fewer complications occur. To perform the measurement as a layman in the home environment, extensive training is necessary. This makes it possible to undertake longer journeys without having to find a doctor for laboratory control on site.

The training and equipment costs are initially a considerable expense for the health insurance companies, which is why resistance is often to be expected. Nevertheless, there are many reasons for the home self-measurement, because many complications such as bleeding or strokes, which in turn entail considerable costs, can be prevented. One should therefore not be discouraged if the health insurance company initially refuses. In any case, what speaks in favor of self-measurement is that the satisfaction of the patients is increased, because here a conscientious co-determination of the therapy can take place.