Vitamin K is necessary for normal clotting of blood in humans.
Vitamin K is required for the liver to make factors that are necessary for blood to properly clot (coagulate), including factor II (prothrombin), factor VII (proconvertin), factor IX (thromboplastin component), and factor X (Stuart factor).
Other clotting factors that depend on vitamin K are protein C, protein S, and protein Z. Deficiency of vitamin K or disturbances of liver function (for example, severe liver failure) may lead to deficiencies of clotting factors and excess bleeding.
Vitamin K deficiency is rare, but can lead to defective blood clotting and increased bleeding. People at risk for developing vitamin K deficiency include those with chronic malnutrition (including those with alcohol dependency) or conditions that limit absorption of dietary vitamins such as biliary obstruction, celiac disease or sprue, ulcerative colitis, regional enteritis, cystic fibrosis, short bowel syndrome, or intestinal resection (particularly of the terminal ileum, where fat-soluble vitamins are absorbed).
A specially labelled blood sample collection kit containing everything needed by a nurse or doctor to take the blood sample. The kit will be unique and coded specifically to you.
A Medical History & Lifestyle questionnaire is included with this test. It covers important areas such as illness, injuries, medical conditions, medication, family health history and much more.
The Medical History & Lifestyle questionnaire provides us with vital information which can affect how your results are interpreted and what advice you receive.
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