Platelets
Platelets, also known as thrombocytes, are small blood cells. They form in your bone marrow, the sponge-like tissue in your bones. Platelets are essential for blood clotting. A blood clot is a mass of blood that forms when platelets, proteins, and cells in the blood stick together. When you get hurt, your body forms a blood clot to stop the bleeding.
A platelet count is most often used to monitor or diagnose conditions that cause too much bleeding or clotting. A platelet count may be included in a complete blood count, a test that is often done as part of a regular checkup.
Source: MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of MedicineNormal range
45 published ranges, each from a named source 150450 ×10⁹/L drawn: all ages · American Board of Internal Medicine (Laboratory Test Reference Ranges)
- Normal
- 150–450 ×10⁹/L
- Female
- 157–371 ×10⁹/L
- Male
- 135–317 ×10⁹/L
All source ranges (45)
What an abnormal result can be associated with
- A high result
- Thrombocytosis
- A low result
- Thrombocytopenia
details
- Sample
- Whole blood · LOINC
- Part of
- CBC panel
- Listed under
- Platelet Disorders
- Code
- LOINC 777-3 · ×10⁹/L
- Also known as
- Platelet count, Platelet, Thrb, Platelt, Plt
See your own Platelets Add a lab report and it is drawn against your lab's range, over time. Upload a Blood Test