A platelet count test is a blood test to measure number of platelets in blood. Platelets are parts of the blood, smaller than WBC and RBC that help the blood clot.
To perform this test blood sample is taken into an airtight vial or tube. To give sample in many cases you don’t need to do any thing special.
Reason behind this test
Platelets count in the blood can be affected by many diseases. Platelets may be counted to monitor or diagnose diseases, or to look for the cause of excess bleeding or clotting. Like in India in case of dengue viral disease platelets count reduced very drastically. So for monitoring and managing dengue this test is required.
Normal range
150,000 – 400,000 platelets per microliter (mcL).
Abnormal range, if your platelet count is below 50,000, your risk of bleeding is much higher, high platelet count is 400,000 or above, thrombosis refers to when your body is making too many platelets. High platelet counts may be at risk of forming blood clots.