The PLTS blood test is often ordered to measure how someone is responding to a specific disease treatment. It is most commonly ordered when someone has been diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy. When platelet levels are too low, then the risk of bleeding goes up. Bruises are very common with low platelet counts and internal bleeding could happen and not stop.
This condition is sometimes called thrombocytopenia. If your platelet levels drop below 50,000 on the PLTS blood test, then this condition may be diagnosed. It is often ordered not as an individual test, but as part of a complete blood count instead.
What can cause thrombocytopenia? There are three common health reasons that will be looked at if your platelet counts are too low.
1. The blood itself is attacking the platelets because of an overactive immune response.
2. The liver of the spleen is destroying the platelets for some reason.
3. The bone marrow is unable to produce the right amount of platelets for some reason.
Many autoimmune disorders tend to attack platelets, so low counts without the presence of cancer may be causing this issue. Certain medicines and prescription drugs can also cause platelet counts to be lower in addition to cancer treatments that are being received.
What Are the Normal Values For the PLTS Blood Test?
In the PLTS blood test results, you may receive a number that is between 150-450. These are the values that are considered normal when multiplied per millimeter. This means the normal value for platelets is actually 150,000 – 400,000, so having platelet levels below 150,000 may be concerning if receiving specific treatments for disease, but won’t stop the treatments from progressing. Anything below the 150 mark, however, may indicate that the treatment plan is not working as expected and that a new form of treatment is necessary.
Most of the time, you will not need to take any special steps to have the blood draw taken to have your platelet count examined. Your doctor may have instructions to follow, however, so be sure to follow each as accurately as possible so the results can be charted.
What If the PLTS Blood Test Results Are Too High?
If the PLTS blood test shows that the platelet count is above 400k, then this will be considered a high result. This condition is called thrombocytosis, which basically just means the body is making too many platelets for what is needed. The reason why a high platelet count will be examined closely is because it increases the chances of the blood clotting within the body, which leads to serious medical conditions.
A high PLTS result is usually because of a recent infection that someone has had or an allergic reaction. Common hay fever is known to cause high platelet counts. Certain medicines may also cause high platelet counts. More rarely, it can also be caused by the presence of cancer or chronic leukemia. There is also a certain type of anemia that can cause high platelet counts because the red blood cells are being destroyed too early.
What To Speak With Your Doctor About
If your platelet counts are low and you’re undergoing treatment for cancer or a serious infection, then discuss possible treatment alternatives that may be able to raise your counts. Some treatments may not be continued because of the platelet counts being too low. Once the count hits 50k or less, something as simple as a bump against the corner of a dresser can be enough to cause a life-threatening bleeding event.
If your platelet counts fall within the normal range, the treatments will typically continue.
If your platelet counts are too high, then your doctor may wish to test for cancer if it hasn’t been diagnosed already. Certain blood diseases or the presence of a hidden infection will also be looked at to determine if it is the cause. There may also be a problem with the spleen that could be causing platelet counts to spike. Treatments to lower the platelet count are usually administered immediately to make sure clotting does not occur.
The PLTS blood test may have normal values vary slightly based on the laboratory that is conducting the test. Most people will have results fall within the normal range, even when being treated for a serious condition. If the results fall outside the normal range, then speak with your treatment team immediately about alternatives that are available to you.