II. Evaluation
- Variants below as seen on Peripheral Smear
- Confirm Platelet Count
- Oil Immersion at 1000x Magnification
- Typical count: 15-20 per field
- Scan the slide for Platelet clumping (platelet Agglutination)
- Associated with EDTA-activated antiplatelet antibodies
- Electronic undercounting (Pseudothrombocytopenia)
- Repeat sample in non-EDTA Anticoagulant
III. Causes: Platelet Abnormalities
- Megathrombocytes (Platelet >2.5 microns diameter)
- Accelerated Platelet production
- Compensation fro increased Platelet destruction
- Vitamin B12 Deficiency
- Myeloproliferative diseases
- Congenital Thrombocytopenia (e.g. Bernard-Soulier Syndrome)
- Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura
- Megakaryocyte Fragments
- Platelet hypogranularity