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pseudothrombocytopenia

Diminished electronic platelet counts resulting from platelet aggregation or platelet clumping in vitro. Etiology: - occurs most frequently in specimens collected with EDTA, less often with heparin, when allowed to stand prior to analysis - platelets may clump or aggregate around leukocytes - phenomenon is thought to be due to antibodies causing platelets to aggregate in vitro, but not in vivo Laboratory: - platelet counts as low as 10,000/uL [4] - diagnosis is made by examination of the peripheral smear for platelet aggregates - repeat platelet count using citrate as the anticoagulant [1,3]

Related

thrombocytopenia

General

laboratory artifact

References

  1. Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 11, 15, 16, 17. American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 1998, 2009, 2012, 2015
  2. Froom P, Barak M. Prevalence and course of pseudothrombocytopenia in outpatients. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2011 Jan;49(1):111-4. PMID: 20961195
  3. Lippi G, Plebani M. EDTA-dependent pseudothrombocytopenia: further insights and recommendations for prevention of a clinically threatening artifact. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2012 Aug;50(8):1281-5. PMID: 22868791
  4. NEJM Knowledge+ Hematology - Lardinois B, Favresse J, Chatelain B, Lippi G, Mullier F. Pseudothrombocytopenia-A Review on Causes, Occurrence and Clinical Implications. J Clin Med. 2021 Feb 4;10(4):594. PMID: 33557431 PMCID: PMC7915523 Free PMC article. Review.