Platelets

Measured in 10^3/uL

The number of small cell fragments that help your blood clot — a count that fluctuates normally and can also be skewed by how the sample was handled.

What it is

Platelets are tiny cell fragments that clump together to help stop bleeding when a blood vessel is injured, and this test counts how many are circulating. The count naturally fluctuates — it can rise temporarily with inflammation, infection, exercise, or after certain procedures, and it can vary with pregnancy and some medications. It can also be thrown off by lab factors: platelets sometimes clump in the collection tube and get undercounted, which is why clinicians may confirm an unexpected result with a repeat draw or a look at the blood under a microscope before reading anything into it.

Typical range

  • Adults150–450 10^3/uL

Source · StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf NBK604207) (2024)

Reference ranges vary between laboratories, and what is normal for you depends on your own history. Your own lab’s range is the one printed on your report.

Worth asking your clinician

  • Is my platelet count different enough from my previous results to be worth attention?
  • Could clumping in the sample or another lab factor have affected this number, and would a recheck be useful?
  • Are there any symptoms — like unusual bruising or bleeding — I should mention or watch for and report?