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COMPLETE BLOOD COUNT (CBC)
Also printed as: PLT · Thrombocytes · Platelet count
Educational only — not medical advice.
Platelets are small cell fragments that clump together to help blood clot when a vessel is injured. The count tells you how many are circulating. They are also part of the inflammatory response, so they move with illness.
Platelet counts swing more than most people expect, both with the body's state and with the collection itself. A one-off value outside the range is common; a sustained shift is what carries information.
TYPICAL ADULT RANGE
Many labs report roughly 150–400 K/µL for adults. Ranges vary by lab. Reported in K/µL.
Reference ranges vary by lab, by method, and by age and sex. Always read your own result against the range printed on your report.
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A modestly low platelet count is frequently a collection artifact — if the sample clumps in the tube, the analyzer under-counts, and labs often note this and rerun in a different tube. Real causes include recent viral illness, pregnancy, alcohol in the days before, and several common medications. If it is genuinely low and persistent, or you notice easy bruising or bleeding that takes longer to stop, that is worth telling your doctor promptly.
Higher platelet counts most often reflect the body responding to something — recent infection, inflammation, healing after surgery or injury, iron deficiency, or hard exercise all raise them temporarily. This kind of reactive rise settles as the trigger resolves. A count that stays elevated across several draws is a routine reason for your doctor to look further, including at your iron studies.
Your doctor is the one who can read this number against your history, symptoms, and medications.
Educational only — not medical advice. Lab results only mean something alongside your history, symptoms, medications, and the rest of your panel. Bring questions to your doctor; they are the one who can interpret your results for you.
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