Plateletcrit as a Screening Tool for Detection of Platelet Quantitative Disorders

Abstract

Background: Context-Plateletcrit is a measure of total platelet mass. Values vary depending on mean platelet volume resulting in overlap between normal platelets, thrombocytopenia and thrombocytosis. Aims of this study were to record platelet indices in our hospital set up and evaluate normal range of plateletcrit which could screen thrombocytopenia, thrombocytosis and normal platelet count.

Methods: We studied platelet indices in 206 patients using Advia 2120 analyzer. At seven different cut off ranges of Plateletcrit the sensitivity and specificity for detecting thrombocytopenia and thrombocytosis was calculated.

Results: The average of Mean platelet volume was 9.13 fl, plateletcrit- 0.23% and Platelet distribution width-56.6% in normal platelet counts. Sensitivity and specificity for detection of thrombocytopenia at plateletcrit cut off range of 0.20-0.36% is 97 and 80% and 94 and 98% for thrombocytosis.

Conclusion: In our hospital set up we found that majority of our patients with normal platelet count have a plateletcrit within the range of 0.20-0.36%. Plateletcrit is an effective screening tool for detecting platelet quantitative abnormalities.




doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4021/jh70w