What is bleeding time?

"Bleeding Time" is an archaic and inexact method or measuring platelet action and clotting factor. In this method, one cuts the patient in a very specific way (various methods exist), turns on their stopwatch, and waits for the bleeding to stop. The number of factors that can effect this test, robbing it of its accuracy are myriad -- far too many to list at this time. Instead, standard lab testing for clotting factor of a blood sample is far more accurate, and avoids the nuisance of attacking your patient with a sharp blade.