Platelet count - blood
Last updated: Saturday, 01, May, 2004
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| Item | Process |
|---|---|
| Specimen | 5 mL blood in EDTA tube. 2 mL blood in special paediatric EDTA tube. |
| Method | Part of FBC. Electronic counts on automated and semi-automated instruments. Manual (microscopy) counts are not accurate. |
| Reference Interval | 150-400 x 109/L. |
| Application | History of excessive and/or inappropriate bleeding, bruising; purpura. Monitoring drugs with potential or predictable bone marrow toxicity. Monitoring heparin therapy. Post-splenectomy monitoring. Possible myeloproliferative disorder. |
| Interpretation | See Thrombocytopenia and Thrombocytosis. |
| Reference | Dacie JV and Lewis SM. Practical Haematology. 8th ed. Churchill Livingstone 1995. |