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Platelets are small blood cells that are important for blood clotting, the process that helps you stop bleeding after an injury. A blood sample is usually drawn from a vein in the arm and used for the test.
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But these can also be advised exclusively to diagnose, assess, and monitor bleeding and clotting diseases, bone marrow disorders, and other conditions. Some studies suggest that high MPV is a predictor of heart diseases and stroke.īoth these tests are part of the health screening test, CBC. Sometimes, the platelets clump together and appear falsely enlarged and in lower numbers. It also gives an estimate of how old the platelets are.
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Platelet count is a test that gives the average number of platelets per microliter (mcL) of blood. Immobile patients such as bedridden, post-operative, and post-trauma, can develop clots in their legs disturbing the circulation on movement, his clot or its broken pieces can dislodge and severely damage the lung circulation. In cases of large, intra-vessel clots, these can break off into smaller pieces and travel to other areas of the body leading to similar blockage situations in the limbs. The trigger can be a small cut or an irregularity in the arteries, leading to the clumping, blocking of circulation, and damaging the affected organ, such as a heart attack. They do this by sticking to the injured site, clumping together, and attracting other platelets by chemicals. When platelets come in touch with any disruption in the vessel walls, they form clumps and clots to stop the bleeding. The average life of a platelet is 8-10 days. Newly formed platelets are larger compared to older ones.
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These are fragments of a bigger cell called megakaryocyte that is produced in the bone marrow. Platelets, or thrombocytes, are small, irregular-shaped blood cells that heal wounds and prevent bleeding. Factors affecting MPV: What are Platelets?.
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