After a routine yearly physical and routine blood test, my doctor called with the results. He stated that my platelet count was low and wants me to retake the blood test. Is this anything to be worried about?
2007-01-21 15:51:59 · 5 answers · asked by skibum8232 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Infectious Diseases
Platelets play a role in blood clotting. At this point, there is no reason to be alarmed. Some medications may decrease your platelet count. If the count was alarmingly low, your doctor would have brought you in for immediate follow up. For now, do not worry, but follow up with testing as ordered by your doctor! He may order other tests along with a platelet count that will look to see your clotting time and possible causes.
2007-01-21 16:36:11 · answer #1 · answered by Nurse Jacqui 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't worry. Its quite possible that when the sample was drawn, the EDTA in that tube was not thoroughly mixed with the blood sample and enough microaggregates formed to alter the count. When one draws a sample for a CBC, the person drawing that sample must thoroughly mix the sample with the anticoagulant, in this case the tube will be a purple top with EDTA in it to keep the sample as whole blood for an accurate count.
Also, some people are what we call in the lab "EDTA Clumpers"
Those folks for some reason, their platelets clump in the presence of EDTA anticoagulant. Those folks are easily identified on the peripheral smear review.
Those folks need their platelet count draw in a Blue Top Sodium Citrate. I would run that through the analyzer and use that Platelet count.
I would follow up and retake just to be sure, like the doctor is suggesting.
2007-01-22 04:19:58 · answer #2 · answered by Rat 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Meh, I would retake the test and make sure it's right before you even considered getting worried, and then other things come into play, is this a much lower count than before, or the first time you've had a CBC (complete blood count) taken?
Short answer, don't panic, take the test again, if it's correct, then it should be looked into, but still no cause to get excessively worried yet, it can be caused by many things which are relatively benign.
2007-01-21 16:35:07 · answer #3 · answered by The Doc 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As you do not have any symptoms, don't worry. Possible causes can be: 1. Lab. error. 2. Recent viral infection. 3. Recent drug intake. 4. Autoimmune purpura or ITP, due to one's own antibodies destroying platelets. 5. Leukemia and other malignancies. Some drugs or viral infections can lower the platelets, transiently or permanently. Low platelets can lead to prolonged bleeding after trauma or spontaneously. There can be petechiae on the skin, bleeding from the gums, nose or in the stool or vomit. It is wise to repeat the count. If you have bleeding from any site, go to the ER immediately.
2007-01-22 04:34:05 · answer #4 · answered by yakkydoc 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not normally. it just means that the clotting agent in your blood is low. this causes you to creat scabs to stop bleeding. anemia is when you have no platelets, but that would have been diagnosed very early
2007-01-21 15:55:55 · answer #5 · answered by J-BIRD 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋