Thrombocytes (platelets)
Immune system healthAlso known as: PLT, platelet count, Thrombos, Plättchen
Platelets (thrombocytes) are blood cells essential for blood clotting.
When vessel damage occurs, they adhere to injury sites and initiate the coagulation cascade to prevent excessive bleeding.
Reference range
Female
Source: lab benchmark
Male
Source: lab benchmark
Reference ranges may vary between labs and assays. Always interpret results with your healthcare provider. · LOINC code: 26515-7
Why this matters
Platelet levels reveal how well your body can form clots and respond to bleeding. Low platelet counts increase bleeding risk, while high counts may indicate inflammation or bone marrow disorders. Maintaining healthy platelet levels through balanced nutrition, avoiding excessive alcohol, and managing underlying health conditions supports proper blood clotting and vascular health.
How this connects to other biomarkers
- Low Platelets with elevated LDH-1 (LDH Isoenzyme 1), fragmented red cells (schistocytes) on smear, and acute kidney injury (rising Creatinine) suggests TTP/HUS — rare clotting disorders that damage kidneys, a hematologic emergency.
- Low Platelets with elevated Aspartat-Aminotransferase (ASAT) / Alanine Aminotransferase (ALAT) and low Albumin are common in cirrhosis (the enlarged spleen traps platelets and the failing liver makes less of the platelet-stimulating hormone).
- Elevated Platelets with high hs-CRP and elevated Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate is reactive thrombocytosis from inflammation; persistent elevation without cause warrants JAK2 gene testing for essential thrombocythemia (a bone marrow disorder).
How often should I test Thrombocytes (platelets)?
Most adults benefit from yearly platelet count testing as part of a complete blood count. If you're on antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy, your clinician guides the cadence.
At baseline / for screening: Once every 12 months from age 30 as part of a comprehensive panel.
When monitoring an intervention or change: Platelet count is stable in healthy adults but responds to acute illness, medication, and inflammatory conditions. On antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy, your clinician sets a more frequent cadence based on the specific medication. Unexpectedly low values in an asymptomatic person often warrant a repeat in citrate tubes to rule out pseudothrombocytopenia.
Note: Platelet clumping in the tube falsely lowers the count (pseudothrombocytopenia). If unexpectedly low, retest in citrate tubes immediately; after acute illness, allow 2 to 4 weeks for normalization.
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