Platelets
Platelets are tiny fragments that stop bleeding — they clump together and form a plug on a damaged vessel. They are made in the bone marrow.
| Rating | Range | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Talk to a doctor | below 145 10^9/L | |
| Good | 145 – 387 10^9/L | Within the reference range. |
| Talk to a doctor | 387 10^9/L and above |
This marker also has 2 age- or sex-specific range sets in the app — the table shows the general one.
Why it matters
Low = bleeding risk; high = inflammation/clotting.
If it’s low
Low platelets (thrombocytopenia) increase the risk of bleeding (bruises, bleeding gums). The causes are infections, medications, immune disorders or the bone marrow.
If it’s high
High platelets (thrombocytosis) are often reactive — with inflammation, infection, iron deficiency or after surgery; rarely the result of bone marrow disease.
What to do
A mild abnormality is often reactive (address the cause — inflammation, iron). Markedly low (risk of bleeding) or persistently high belong to a doctor.
Read together with
Leukocytes (WBC) · Hemoglobin · hs-CRP · Ferritin
Part of the guide: Complete blood count (CBC) →
Articles about this marker
- Complete blood count (CBC): what the basic blood count meansMarker explained
- Fatty liver: what raised liver enzymes mean and what FIB-4 isLiver
- High or low platelet count: what it means and when to worryComplete blood count (CBC)
- MPV blood test: what high or low mean platelet volume meansComplete blood count (CBC)
This content is for information only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Talk to your doctor about your results.
Your number, not the average
Upload your report: we rate your exact value for your age and sex, show the source, and tell you what to do next.