Platelet count / Platelets
Other names: PLT, PLT Count, Thrombocytes, Platelet Number, Platelet Concentration, Platelet Cell Count, Platelet Level, Thrombocyte Count, Blood Platelets
Platelets: What You Need to Know
Other Names: Platelets, Thrombocyte Count
What Are Platelets?
Platelets, also called thrombocytes, are tiny, colorless fragments of cells found in your blood. Their primary role is to form clots that stop or prevent bleeding.
Where Are Platelets Made?
Platelets are produced in the bone marrow, the spongy tissue inside your bones. This marrow contains stem cells that develop into red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
What Is the Main Function of Platelets?
The main job of platelets is to form clots when blood vessels are damaged. For example, if you cut your skin, platelets combine with clotting factors (proteins in the blood) to form a “glue” that seals the wound and stops bleeding.
Platelet Count: Key Information
What Is a Platelet Count?
A platelet count is a routine blood test that measures the number of platelets in your blood.
What Is a Normal Platelet Count?
A healthy platelet count typically ranges from 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood.
- Normal range: 150,000–450,000 platelets per microliter.
- Low platelet count (thrombocytopenia): Below 150,000 platelets per microliter.
- High platelet count (thrombocytosis): Above 450,000 platelets per microliter.
Why Is It Important to Test Platelets?
Testing your platelet levels is important because abnormal counts can indicate health concerns:
- Low platelet count might suggest infections, cancer, or autoimmune disorders.
- High platelet count can increase the risk of harmful blood clots, potentially causing strokes or other complications.
When Is a Platelet Count Ordered?
A platelet count is typically included in a complete blood count (CBC), a standard test that evaluates red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
Your doctor may request a platelet count during:
- Routine health check-ups to monitor overall wellness.
- Targeted evaluations when conditions like these are suspected:
- Thrombocytopenia (low platelets).
- Thrombocytosis (high platelets).
References
- Ashorobi D, Gohari P. Essential Thrombocytosis. Updated 2022 Jun 21. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022.
- Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center. Essential Thrombocythemia.
- Genetic Home Reference. Essential Thrombocythemia.
- Lee H, Reagan JL. Thrombocytosis. In: Ferri FF, ed. Ferri’s Clinical Advisor. New York: Elsevier; 2022: 1473-1474.
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Thrombocythemia and Thrombocytosis.
What does it mean if your Platelet count / Platelets result is too high?
What Are Thrombocythemia and Thrombocytosis?
Thrombocythemia and thrombocytosis refer to conditions characterized by a higher-than-normal platelet count in the blood.
What Are Platelets?
Platelets, also known as thrombocytes, are tiny blood cells made in the bone marrow. When blood vessels are damaged, platelets stick together to form a blood clot, sealing the wound and preventing further bleeding. However, when platelet levels are too high, clots can form within the blood vessels, disrupting normal blood flow.
- Thrombocythemia: A high platelet count not caused by another condition, often referred to as primary or essential thrombocythemia, is a blood and bone marrow disorder.
- Thrombocytosis: A high platelet count caused by an underlying disease or condition, known as secondary or reactive thrombocytosis, is more common than thrombocythemia.
How Are High Platelet Levels Detected?
A high platelet count is typically identified during a routine blood test, such as a complete blood count (CBC). Distinguishing between reactive thrombocytosis and essential thrombocythemia is essential for selecting the appropriate treatment.
Symptoms of High Platelet Levels
Many individuals with high platelet counts experience no symptoms. When symptoms occur, they are often linked to blood clots or, less commonly, bleeding.
Blood Clot Symptoms:
- Headache
- Confusion or changes in speech
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath and nausea
- Weakness
- Burning pain in the hands or feet
Bleeding Symptoms (Less Common):
- Nosebleeds
- Bruising
- Bleeding from the mouth or gums
- Blood in stool
Causes of Thrombocytosis
Reactive Thrombocytosis
This more common type of thrombocytosis occurs due to underlying medical conditions, such as:
- Blood loss
- Cancer
- Infections
- Iron deficiency
- Removal of the spleen
- Hemolytic anemia (destruction of red blood cells)
- Inflammatory disorders like rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease
- Surgery or trauma
Essential Thrombocythemia
The exact cause is unknown but may involve genetic mutations (e.g., JAK2, CALR, MPL) that cause the bone marrow to produce too many platelets, which may not function properly. Essential thrombocythemia poses a higher risk of blood clots and bleeding complications than reactive thrombocytosis.
Complications of Thrombocythemia
Blood Clot Complications:
- Strokes: Clots in the brain can cause strokes or transient ischemic attacks.
- Heart Attacks: Clots in heart arteries can reduce blood flow and cause heart attacks.
- Pregnancy Complications: Uncontrolled thrombocythemia can lead to miscarriages or other issues.
Bleeding Complications:
- Bleeding can occur if high platelet counts lead to platelet dysfunction.
- Bleeding may also result from conditions like von Willebrand disease, where blood does not clot properly due to a lack of clotting proteins.
Diagnosis of Thrombocythemia and Thrombocytosis
To diagnose these conditions, healthcare providers may:
- Review medical and family history.
- Conduct a complete blood count (CBC) to measure platelets.
- Perform a blood smear to examine platelet function.
- Order bone marrow tests to assess its health.
- Conduct genetic testing to identify mutations in genes that regulate platelet production.
Treatment Options
Thrombocytosis Treatment
Treatment for secondary thrombocytosis focuses on addressing the underlying cause. Platelet-lowering medications are typically not required as platelet function remains normal.
Thrombocythemia Treatment
For those with essential thrombocythemia, treatment options may include:
- Medications:
- Hydroxyurea: A platelet-lowering drug often used in cancer and sickle cell treatment.
- Anagrelide: Lowers platelets but may cause fluid retention, palpitations, or headaches.
- Aspirin: Reduces clotting risk, often prescribed for low-risk patients.
- Interferon alfa: Lowers platelets but may have significant side effects like flu-like symptoms and gastrointestinal issues.
- Plateletpheresis: An emergency procedure to rapidly lower platelet levels by removing excess platelets from the blood.
Possible Health Problems
Thrombocythemia and thrombocytosis can lead to:
- Blood clots, causing stroke, heart attack, or venous thromboembolism.
- Pregnancy complications.
- Scarred bone marrow or overproduction of blood cells, which can progress to leukemia in rare cases.
By understanding the symptoms, causes, and treatments for thrombocythemia and thrombocytosis, individuals can work closely with healthcare providers to manage their condition effectively.
All Your Lab Results.
One Simple Dashboard.
Import, Track, and Share Your Lab Results Easily
Import, Track, and Share Your Lab Results
Import lab results from multiple providers, track changes over time, customize your reference ranges, and get clear explanations for each result. Everything is stored securely, exportable in one organized file, and shareable with your doctor—or anyone you choose.
Cancel or upgrade anytime
What does it mean if your Platelet count / Platelets result is too low?
Thrombocytopenia: What You Need to Know
What Is Thrombocytopenia?
Thrombocytopenia is the medical term for a low platelet count. It can result from an underlying condition, such as leukemia or immune system disorders, or as a side effect of certain medications.
Symptoms of Thrombocytopenia
Thrombocytopenia can range from mild, with few noticeable symptoms, to severe, where dangerously low platelet levels may lead to internal bleeding. Treatment options are available to manage the condition.
Signs and Symptoms Include:
- Easy or excessive bruising (purpura):
Purpura refers to purple-colored spots, also called blood spots or skin hemorrhages, that appear on the skin, organs, or mucous membranes, including inside the mouth. - Petechiae:
Tiny, pinpoint-sized reddish-purple spots on the skin, often on the legs, arms, stomach, or buttocks. They may also appear inside the mouth or on the eyelids. - Prolonged bleeding from cuts.
- Bleeding from gums or nose.
- Blood in urine or stool.
- Unusually heavy menstrual flows.
- Fatigue.
- Enlarged spleen.
- Jaundice:
A yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes caused by excessive bilirubin in the blood (hyperbilirubinemia).
Causes of Thrombocytopenia
Thrombocytopenia can be inherited or caused by various medications or medical conditions. It occurs when platelet levels drop due to one or more of the following processes:
1. Trapped Platelets
An enlarged spleen, located under the rib cage on the left side of the abdomen, can trap platelets, reducing their circulation. Conditions that enlarge the spleen may lead to thrombocytopenia.
2. Decreased Platelet Production
Platelets are made in the bone marrow. A reduction in their production can result in low platelet counts. Causes include:
- Leukemia.
- Certain types of anemia.
- Viral infections, such as hepatitis C or HIV.
- Chemotherapy drugs.
- Excessive alcohol consumption.
3. Increased Breakdown of Platelets
Some conditions cause the body to destroy platelets faster than they are produced, leading to a shortage. Examples include:
- Pregnancy: Usually mild and resolves after childbirth.
- Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP): Autoimmune diseases like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis cause the immune system to destroy platelets. If the cause is unknown, it is called idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.
- Bacteria in the blood (bacteremia): Severe infections can destroy platelets.
- Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: A rare condition causing small blood clots to form throughout the body, using up platelets.
- Hemolytic uremic syndrome: A rare disorder that decreases platelets, destroys red blood cells, and impairs kidney function. It may be linked to bacterial infections like E. coli from contaminated food.
- Medications: Certain drugs, such as heparin, quinine, sulfa-containing antibiotics, and anticonvulsants, can confuse the immune system into destroying platelets.
Complications of Thrombocytopenia
Severe thrombocytopenia, with platelet levels below 10,000 per microliter, can result in dangerous internal bleeding. In rare cases, it may cause brain bleeding, which can be fatal.
When to See a Doctor
Consult your healthcare provider if you notice any symptoms that concern you. Seek emergency medical care for bleeding that won’t stop despite first-aid measures, such as applying pressure to the area.
Treatment Options for Thrombocytopenia
Treatment depends on the severity of your condition and its underlying cause. If symptoms are mild, treatment may not be necessary. In many cases, addressing the root cause improves platelet levels.
Common Treatment Options:
- Steroids: Medications that can boost platelet production.
- Blood Transfusions: Temporarily increase platelet levels, lasting about three days.
- Splenectomy: Surgery to remove the spleen if it is trapping excessive platelets. However, this increases infection risk, so vaccines may be given to prevent infections.
By managing the underlying condition or adjusting medications, many people experience improvements in their platelet counts.
References
- Mayo Clinic. Thrombocytopenia Overview
- Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center. Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP)
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Thrombocytopenia
Laboratories
Bring All Your Lab Results Together — In One Place
We accept reports from any lab, so you can easily collect and organize all your health information in one secure spot.
Pricing Table
Gather Your Lab History — and Finally Make Sense of It
Finally, Your Lab Results Organized and Clear
Personal plans
$79/ year
Advanced Plan
Access your lab reports, explanations, and tracking tools.
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track all results with visual tools
- Customize your reference ranges
- Export your full lab history anytime
- Share results securely with anyone
- Receive 5 reports entered for you
- Cancel or upgrade anytime
$250/ once
Unlimited Account
Pay once, access everything—no monthly fees, no limits.
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track all results with visual tools
- Customize your reference ranges
- Export your full lab history anytime
- Share results securely with anyone
- Receive 10 reports entered for you
- No subscriptions. No extra fees.
$45/ month
Pro Monthly
Designed for professionals managing their clients' lab reports
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track lab results for multiple clients
- Customize reference ranges per client
- Export lab histories and reports
- Begin with first report entered by us
- Cancel or upgrade anytime
About membership
What's included in a Healthmatters membership
Import Lab Results from Any Source
See Your Health Timeline
Understand What Your Results Mean
Visualize Your Results
Data Entry Service for Your Reports
Securely Share With Anyone You Trust
Let Your Lab Results Tell the Full Story
Once your results are in one place, see the bigger picture — track trends over time, compare data side by side, export your full history, and share securely with anyone you trust.
Bring all your results together to compare, track progress, export your history, and share securely.
What Healthmatters Members Are Saying
Frequently asked questions
Healthmatters is a personal health dashboard that helps you organize and understand your lab results. It collects and displays your medical test data from any lab in one secure, easy-to-use platform.
- Individuals who want to track and understand their health over time.
- Health professionals, such as doctors, nutritionists, and wellness coaches, need to manage and interpret lab data for their clients.
With a Healthmatters account, you can:
- Upload lab reports from any lab
- View your data in interactive graphs, tables, and timelines
- Track trends and monitor changes over time
- Customize your reference ranges
- Export and share your full lab history
- Access your results anytime, from any device
Professionals can also analyze client data more efficiently and save time managing lab reports.
Healthmatters.io personal account provides in-depth research on 10000+ biomarkers, including information and suggestions for test panels such as, but not limited to:
- The GI Effects® Comprehensive Stool Profile,
- GI-MAP,
- The NutrEval FMV®,
- The ION Profile,
- Amino Acids Profile,
- Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones (DUTCH),
- Organic Acids Test,
- Organix Comprehensive Profile,
- Toxic Metals,
- Complete Blood Count (CBC),
- Metabolic panel,
- Thyroid panel,
- Lipid Panel,
- Urinalysis,
- And many, many more.
You can combine all test reports inside your Healthmatters account and keep them in one place. It gives you an excellent overview of all your health data. Once you retest, you can add new results and compare them.
If you are still determining whether Healthmatters support your lab results, the rule is that if you can test it, you can upload it to Healthmatters.
We implement proven measures to keep your data safe.
At HealthMatters, we're committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We've put industry-leading security standards in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. We use procedural, physical, and electronic security methods designed to prevent unauthorized people from getting access to this information. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. All data is backed up multiple times a day and encrypted using SSL certificates. See our Privacy Policy for more details.