Platelet Count: Normal Range, High & Low Causes
What Platelets measures
Platelets are small cell fragments that clump together to stop bleeding. The count is part of a complete blood count (CBC).
Platelets reference ranges
| Category | Conventional units | SI units |
|---|---|---|
| Typical adult range | 150 – 450 ×10³/µL | 150 – 450 ×10⁹/L |
| Low (thrombocytopenia) | Below 150 ×10³/µL | Below 150 ×10⁹/L |
| High (thrombocytosis) | Above 450 ×10³/µL | Above 450 ×10⁹/L |
Indian reports often print 1.5–4.5 lakhs/cumm, which is the same range. Multiply lakhs by 100 to get ×10³/µL.
Need to convert units? Use the Platelet unit converter.
Common causes of a high result
- Iron-deficiency anemia
- Infection or inflammation (reactive rise)
- After removal of the spleen
- Some cancers
- Essential thrombocythemia and other bone-marrow disorders
Common causes of a low result
- Viral infections, including dengue
- Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP)
- Medicines, including some antibiotics and heparin
- Liver disease and an enlarged spleen
- B12 or folate deficiency
- Pregnancy (gestational thrombocytopenia)
- Bone-marrow disorders
How to prepare for the test
No fasting needed.
How often to retest
Mildly abnormal counts are usually repeated. Very low counts need prompt medical advice.
Track Platelets over time
Upload your reports and Labgist plots every Platelets result on one timeline, converts units and shows what changed.
Get the appFrequently asked questions
What is a normal platelet count?
150,000–450,000 per µL, written as 150–450 ×10³/µL, or 1.5–4.5 lakhs/cumm on many Indian reports.
What causes a low platelet count?
Common causes include viral infections such as dengue, medicines, immune conditions, liver disease and nutritional deficiencies. A clinician needs to find the cause.
When is a low platelet count an emergency?
Seek urgent care for a low count with unusual bruising, bleeding gums or nosebleeds that will not stop, blood in urine or stool, or a severe headache.
Related tests
Sources
This page is general education and was last updated 2026-10-30. It is not a substitute for medical advice. See our editorial approach.