Which Patients Qualify for PT/INR Self Testing?It is estimated that there are currently over 4 million patients on warfarin therapy in the U.S. Advances in warfarin management, such as patient self-testing, are giving clinicians and INR patients more options in the management of their care. A good candidate for PT/INR patient self-testing should have the following: - Chronic (lifetime) anticoagulation patients
- Motivated and interested in participating in therapy, and in PST
- Physically capable of performing a self-test, including obtaining a finger-stick blood sample, or has a dedicated caregiver to assist with PST
- Technically competent to operate a self-testing meter and to use the telephone to report their test results, or has a caregiver to assist
- Capable of understanding and retaining training
- Responsible and willing to follow their doctor’s orders for frequency of testing
Other factors to consider when selecting patients for PST: - Difficulty in getting to the doctor’s office or lab for INR testing due to:
- Travel distance - Access to transportation - Mobility issues - Work or school schedules - Travel frequently, limiting access to timely and consistent testing
- Spend part of the year in a second residence in another part of the country
- Unable to provide a venous sample
- Require more frequent testing due to other conditions
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