Methods for detecting decreased platelet count

The platelets in the human body control all the blood. If there is a problem with the platelets in the human body, it means that there is a platelet disease that endangers human health. Then, as many friends often encounter, the platelet count decreases. What is going on?

Platelet count refers to the number of platelets contained in a unit volume of blood. Platelets are the smallest cells in the blood and protect the integrity of the capillaries.

Due to their small size and the susceptibility to adhesion, aggregation and denaturation, platelets are often difficult to count accurately and often require the use of high-tech blood analyzers. There are two main types of platelet counting methods: hematology analyzer method and visual microscope counting method. Visual microscopy techniques include ordinary optical microscope counting method (divided into direct method and indirect method, but the latter has been eliminated) and phase contrast microscopy method.

Ordinary light microscope direct counting method:

There are various counting methods depending on the composition of the diluent. There are two specific categories:

Direct counting method using phase contrast microscope

Use ammonium oxalate as diluent and count under a clear microscope. The count can be checked after taking a photo. This method has high accuracy and platelets are easy to identify.

Blood cell analyzer method

This method has good repeatability and can ensure the highest level of result accuracy while eliminating the impact of manual sample pre-classification on the detection process as much as possible, making it suitable for clinical application. Blood cell analyzers are becoming increasingly popular, and whole blood is generally used as a specimen, which is simpler and more reliable than platelet-rich plasma analysis. However, since the blood cell analyzer technology cannot completely distinguish platelets from other substances of similar size (such as red blood cell or white blood cell fragments, ash and other debris), the counting results sometimes still need to be corrected by visual microscope counting. Therefore, visual microscope counting (especially phase difference microscope technology) is still used as a reference method both at home and abroad.

And the platelet count decreases. First of all, this phenomenon may cause great harm to your blood function. If you encounter such a phenomenon in your life, you must check and treat it in time to prevent your condition from being delayed.