| "> | | | | thrombocytopenic. |
| Thrombocytopenia is a blood disease characterized | | | | Generally speaking a normal platelet count ranges |
| by an abnormally low number of platelets in the | | | | from 150,000 and 450,000 per mm3. These limits, |
| bloodstream. The normal amount of platelets is | | | | however, are determined by the 2.5th lower and |
| usually between 150,000 and 450,000 cells per | | | | upper percentile, and a deviation does not necessarily |
| microliter of blood. A microliter is an amount equal to | | | | imply any form of disease. The number of platelets in |
| one one-millionth of a liter (a liter is almost equal to a | | | | a blood sample also decreases rather quickly with |
| quart). Platelet numbers are counted by having a | | | | time and a low platelet count may be caused by a |
| blood sample collected and placing a measured | | | | delay between sampling and analysis. |
| amount of blood in a machine called a cell counter. | | | | Thrombocytopenia is any disorder in which there are |
| When the platelet number drops below 150,000 cells | | | | not enough platelets. Platelets are cells in the blood |
| per microliter of blood, this person is said to be | | | | that help blood to clot. |