What Is Platelet Count in a Blood Test?
Platelets (thrombocytes) are cell fragments that form blood clots to stop bleeding. The platelet count measures how many are in a microliter of blood.
Normal Range
- 150,000–450,000/µL
- Below 50,000: increased bleeding risk
- Below 20,000: spontaneous bleeding risk
- Above 450,000: increased clotting risk
Low Platelets (Thrombocytopenia)
- Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP)
- Bone marrow suppression — chemotherapy, leukemia
- Medications — heparin, certain antibiotics
- Liver disease with enlarged spleen
- Viral infection — HIV, hepatitis C
- Pregnancy — usually mild
- Alcohol use
High Platelets (Thrombocytosis)
- Reactive — infection, inflammation, iron deficiency, surgery
- Essential thrombocythemia — bone marrow disorder
- Post-splenectomy
Symptoms
- Low: easy bruising, petechiae, nosebleeds, prolonged bleeding
- High: headaches, dizziness, clotting symptoms
Source: NLM MedlinePlus, American Association for Clinical Chemistry.
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