Blood count and blood group · Blood

Platelets (thrombocytes)

The number of platelets, needed for blood clotting; too few causes bruising and bleeding, too many is usually temporary.

At a glance

Measured in blood
In 13 test panels
No special preparation

Explanation

Platelets (thrombocytes): what is measured?

The test counts the number of platelets (thrombocytes) per liter of blood. Platelets are the smallest blood cells, are made in the bone marrow and live for about a week. When a blood vessel is damaged, they stick to the wound and start the clotting process. The number says something about production in the bone marrow and use or breakdown in the blood, but not about how well the platelets work.

What can it detect?

An increased tendency to bleed due to too few platelets (thrombocytopenia), for example from a viral infection, medicines, an immune reaction or a liver disease
A temporarily raised count (thrombocytosis) with infection, inflammation, iron deficiency or after surgery or removal of the spleen
Rarely: a bone marrow disease in which too many or too few platelets are made

Result

What does the result mean?

Platelets (thrombocytes) too high

A raised platelet count (thrombocytosis) is usually a reaction to something else: an infection, an inflammation (for example rheumatism or inflammatory bowel disease), iron deficiency, blood loss, surgery or heavy exertion. The count also stays higher after removal of the spleen. Such a reactive increase causes no symptoms and disappears once the cause has been treated. Sometimes there is no identifiable reason and no consequence either. With a persistently and clearly raised count without explanation, the cause can rarely be a bone marrow disease (essential thrombocythemia or another myeloproliferative disorder); this carries an increased risk of thrombosis and sometimes of bleeding, and the GP then refers to a hematologist.

Platelets (thrombocytes) too low

A low platelet count (thrombocytopenia) often occurs during or after a viral infection and then recovers on its own. Other causes are medicines (including some antibiotics, antiepileptic drugs, heparin and chemotherapy), excessive alcohol use, a liver disease with an enlarged spleen, a deficiency of vitamin B12 or folic acid, pregnancy, or an immune reaction in which the body breaks down its own platelets (ITP). A slight decrease causes no symptoms; with a very low count, bruises, small red dots on the skin, bleeding gums or nosebleeds appear. A low count in the result is also fairly often due to platelets clumping in the tube; the laboratory checks for this and the measurement is then repeated. Rarely, a low count together with anemia or abnormal white blood cells fits a bone marrow disorder; the GP then investigates this further.

After an abnormal result

With a slightly abnormal count without symptoms, the GP repeats the measurement after a few weeks, with a low count often in a different type of tube to rule out clumping. With a persistently or markedly abnormal count, the GP has the blood examined under the microscope, looks at medicines, alcohol, liver and spleen, and refers to an internist (specialist in internal medicine) or hematologist if there are signs of a bone marrow disorder or ITP.

Reliability

How reliable is the test?

Counting platelets is accurate, but the count responds to many ordinary circumstances and therefore fluctuates. In general practice, a raised count is usually reactive; a low count is fairly often a measurement artifact due to clumping in the tube (pseudothrombocytopenia), so a first abnormal result is often repeated. According to the Dutch GP guideline (NHG) on anemia, an abnormal platelet count together with anemia is a reason to consider a bone marrow disorder and to consult a specialist. The test says nothing about how well the platelets work; with bleeding symptoms and a normal count, other tests are needed.

What can affect the result?

Clumping of platelets in the tube (caused by the anticoagulant EDTA) gives a falsely low count; the laboratory usually recognizes this and repeats the measurement in a different type of tube.
An infection, inflammation or iron deficiency in the weeks before the blood draw temporarily raises the count; a viral infection temporarily lowers it.
Medicines such as heparin, some antibiotics, antiepileptic drugs and chemotherapy lower the count; so does excessive alcohol use.
If the blood takes a long time to reach the laboratory, the count can come out slightly lower.

Who it is for

Who is the test useful for?

Useful for

Useful with symptoms of an increased tendency to bleed (bruising easily, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, heavy periods), for monitoring while taking medicines that suppress the bone marrow, with liver disease or excessive alcohol use, before surgery and as part of a blood count with anemia. In healthy adults without symptoms, a slightly abnormal count is usually temporary and not significant.

How common is it?

A temporarily abnormal platelet count due to an infection or iron deficiency is common. A persistently too high or too low count due to a disease of the bone marrow is rare, as is ITP, the immune disease against platelets.

Drawbacks and risks

A falsely low count due to clumping in the tube is fairly common and can cause unnecessary worry without a repeat measurement.
A normal count does not rule out a clotting problem; the function of the platelets and the clotting factors are not measured.

Get tested

Platelets (thrombocytes): test panels

Platelets (thrombocytes) is part of these test panels. You order online and have your blood drawn at a collection point or collect the sample at home.

Blood draw
Vegan Test
Panel for vegetarian or vegan diet; B12 D iron and more.
€ 116,00
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General Health Checkup
With this General Health Check-up, you gain detailed insight into your overall health and well-being.
€ 125,00
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Blood Count
Blood Count; complete analysis of blood cells for detection of anemia and infections.
€ 19,00
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Complete Blood Count (CBC)
Complete Blood Count Extended; standard blood count plus detailed white blood cell analysis.
€ 27,00
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InsideTracker
InsideTracker Blood Analysis: analyze 48 biomarkers for complete health optimization and personalized recommendations.
€ 335,00
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Endurance Sports
Complete blood count, iron status (ferritin, transferrin), kidney function, liver function, testosterone, and hs-CRP. For athletes and endurance sport participants.
€ 203,00
Blood draw
Comprehensive Fatigue Test
Vitamin D, B12, TSH, fT4, glucose, MCV, ferritin, ESR and complete blood count. For persistent fatigue with inflammation check.
€ 152,00
Blood draw
Extended Cholesterol Test
Comprehensive cholesterol test with vitamin D, B12, and blood count. Combines heart health with a fatigue check in one package.
€ 98,00
Blood draw
Inflammation Extensive
CRP, leukocytes, ESR, and platelets. Extensive test for diagnosis and monitoring of chronic inflammation and autoimmune diseases.
€ 101,00

How reliable is the test?

Platelets (thrombocytes)