Specimen

3 mL (1 mL min.) Whole blood in 1 Lavender Top (EDTA) tube. Ship refrigerated. DO NOT FREEZE.

Usage

Platelets participate in primary hemostasis by forming a platelet plug at sites of vascular injury. Average life span of platelets is 7-10 days. Low platelet count may occur due to decreased production eg. bone marrow failure, increased consumption eg. idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, increased sequestration eg. hypersplenism or a combination of these causes.