Category: Clinical monitoring

Heparin is a widely used anticoagulant medication that significantly prolongs the time it takes for blood to clot. This effect is precisely what the Activated Clotting Time (ACT) test measures, making the ACT an essential tool for monitoring high-dose heparin therapy during critical procedures like cardiopulmonary bypass and cardiac catheterization.

For many life-saving medications, like certain antibiotics, the difference between an effective dose and a toxic one is a narrow therapeutic window. Understanding **what is the peak of a drug**—its maximum concentration in the bloodstream—is essential for ensuring a medication provides its maximum benefit without causing harm.