Platelets Primer

By: Alex Borelli

What Are They/How do They Function?

Platelets are blood’s tiniest component and are often called the body’s “natural bandage.”

Platelets plug up broken blood vessels to prevent too much blood from leaving the body.

Characteristics of Platelets

Characteristics of platelets include lightness, the shape of a plate, and clearness.

Platelets also have a sticky protein on the outside of their walls which allows them to stick to blood vessels.

When near a blood vessel, platelets extend filaments to make contact with said vessel, as well as other components of the clotting process, to stop the bleeding.

Platelets As a Part of Blood

Along with white blood cells platelets make up about 1% of whole blood.

How Platelets Are Formed

While platelets are located in the spleen and blood itself they are formed by a type of cell called megakaryocytes in the body’s bone marrow.

Normal Platelet Levels and Platelet Conditions

You should have between 150,000 and 450,000 platelets per microliter (ul) of blood to be considered to have a normal platelet count

Even if you have the correct platelet count your platelets might not be functioning correctly

What YOU Can Do

As you’ve seen above, platelets are an essential part of the blood-clotting process. Too many platelets, too few platelets, and malfunctioning platelets can cause many health problems for you. So what can you personally do? 

First, you can have a complete blood count (CBC) test done by a healthcare professional to find out, among other things, your platelet count and whether you have too high of a platelet count (thrombocytosis) or too low of a platelet count (thrombocytopenia). Once you know whether or not you have one of these conditions your doctor can recommend next steps. 

Second, ensure your doctor knows about a family history of low or high platelet count or conditions related to platelet abnormalities. This will help your physician more effectively make recommendations to you.

Third, and perhaps most importantly, you can help others who need platelets by donating your own. According to The American National Red Cross someone needs platelets every 15 seconds in the United States and platelets must be used within five days of donation so the need for donors is high. Platelet donation - including completing a health-history questionnaire - usually takes roughly three hours and the process is performed “in a highly-controlled environment by professionally trained staff” (American Red Cross). An individual can donate every seven days or 24 times a year.