What is Haemostasis? 
Haemostasis is the human body's response to blood vessel injury and bleeding. It involves a coordinated effort between platelets, numerous blood clotting proteins (or factors), including ‘tissue factor’ which results in the formation of a blood clot.

Generally, control of bleeding is achieved very quickly and without the need for medical intervention in healthy people.  In major trauma or surgery, physicians often need to help patients to achieve adequate haemostasis – in order to minimize blood loss and related injury.

However, some people are born with a bleeding disorder (congenital) that impairs their ability to achieve haemostasis. Most of these bleeding disorders are hereditary, or run in families. An example of this is haemophilia.

As well, some people who have never had any bleeding problems can develop a condition that causes them to bleed, known as “acquired haemophilia” In this disorder, even minor cuts and bruises can require medical intervention.  Haemophilia imposes a heavy medical and economic burden on individual patients and society in general.