An Introduction to the Complete Blood Count for Clinical Chemists: Platelets

Abstract

Background The most ordered laboratory test worldwide is the complete blood count (CBC). Content In this primer, an introduction to platelet testing in the context of the CBC is provided with a discussion of the laboratory evaluation of platelet abnormalities including thrombocytopenia and thrombocytosis. Summary As clinical chemists continue to be tasked to direct laboratories outside of the traditional clinical chemistry sections such as hematology, expertise must be developed. This primer is dedicated to that effort.