An Introduction to the Complete Blood Count for Clinical Chemists: Platelets.

BACKGROUND:The most ordered laboratory test worldwide is the complete blood count (CBC). CONTENT:In this primer, an introduction to platelet testing in the context of the CBC is provided with a discussion of the laboratory evaluation of platelet abnormalities including thrombocytopenia and thrombocytosis. SUMMARY:As clinical chemists continue to be tasked to direct laboratories outside of the traditional clinical chemistry sections such as hematology, expertise must be developed. This primer is dedicated to that effort.