Indicator Explainer
Platelet
An irregular, disc-shaped element in the blood that assists in blood clotting. Platelets are not blood cells, they are fragments of large bone marrow cells called megakaryocytes.
This page explains what the indicator is and how results are interpreted in general terms. Reference ranges depend on the laboratory, the method, and your own situation — no single “normal value” applies to everyone. This page is health information, not a diagnosis. For symptoms, treatment, or urgent concerns, contact a healthcare professional.
When it is tested
Source: National Cancer Institute, NCI Thesaurus 26.09d, C12520. NCI definition, reproduced without modification under CC BY 4.0. Source identity and definition checked automatically on 2026-10-18. No individual clinical interpretation or human reviewer is asserted.
Reading results
Reference intervals and interpretation depend on the laboratory, specimen, method and clinical context. This source definition is educational information; it does not establish a diagnosis, product approval or suitability for an individual.
Also Known As
References
- NCI Thesaurus 26.09d — Platelet (C12520)
- Source: National Cancer Institute, NCI Thesaurus 26.09d, C12520. NCI definition, reproduced without modification under CC BY 4.0.
- A Simple Platelet-Centered Coagulation-Inflammation Combined Score for Predicting In-Hospital Mortality in Sepsis. — Shock, 2026-10-09 (PMID 42853142; literature)
- Preparation methods and clinical outcomes of platelet-rich plasma for chronic discogenic low back pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. — PM R, 2026-10-09 (PMID 42852874; literature)
- Intratesticular infiltration of platelet-rich plasma, polynucleotides, dermal and adipose cell in secretory azoospermia. — Arch Ital Urol Androl, 2026-10-09 (PMID 42852496; literature)