Overview

• Assessment of platelet numbers.

Sampling

Tests

Methodologies

• Quick, but unreliable, especially if specimen >1-2 hours post-venepuncture.
  Manual count
• With commercial blood dilution system + standard Neubauer chamber gives accurate platelet count.
• Many automatic counts are also checked manually on a smear, especially when the result is low.
• On Romansowsky or supravitally stained smear
  • Count platelets and WBCs over same oil immersion field .
  • 6-7 platelets per 1000x field = ~ 100 x 10*9/l.
  • Check edges of smear for platelet clumping which   →   artificially low platelet counts.
    Estimates only, considerable errors, but clinically useful
  
  Automated bood counter
• Rapid but if platelet clumping occurs   →   low readings.

Result Data

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• Barrelet A (2004) Laboratory tests in equine practice Part 2: Haematological analyses. UK Vet 9 (8), 13-23.