Understand your Platelet Count Blood Test Results…

This page helps you to understand blood test results for Platelet Count and gives you the reference range to determine if your lab test results mean that you have a high, low or normal Platelet Count. 

We outline the risk factors associated with both raised and lower Platelet Count.

Reference Ranges for Platelet Count:

Platelets, also called thrombocytes, are tiny fragments of cells that are essential for normal blood clotting. They are formed from very large cells called megakaryocytes in the bone marrow and are released into the blood to circulate. The platelet count is a test that determines the number of platelets in a person’s sample of blood.

When there is an injury to a blood vessel or tissue and bleeding begins, platelets help stop bleeding in three ways. They:

• Adhere to the injury site
• Clump together (aggregate) with other platelets
• Release chemical compounds that stimulate further aggregation of other platelets

Platelets survive in the circulation about 8 to 10 days, and the bone marrow must continually produce new platelets to replace those that degrade, are used up, and/or are lost through bleeding. Determining the number of platelets in blood with a platelet count can help diagnose a range of disorders having to do with too few or too many platelets.

An excess of platelets can cause excessive clotting or sometimes bleeding if the platelets are not functioning properly.

• Mild cases of low platelet count are often caused by pregnancy but usually don’t cause any symptoms.
• Females tend to have slightly higher platelet counts than males

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