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International Normalized Ratio

Meaning

The International Normalized Ratio (INR) is a standardized, calculated value used in clinical medicine to monitor the efficacy of oral anticoagulant therapy, most notably warfarin. It is mathematically derived by taking the ratio of a patient’s Prothrombin Time (PT) to a normal mean PT, then adjusting this ratio based on the specific sensitivity of the thromboplastin reagent used. The INR provides a universally comparable measure of the degree of anticoagulation, which is vital for safely managing medication dosage and preventing serious bleeding or thrombotic events.