Platelet indices – Under appreciated diagnostic/prognostic tool

 By Anthony Kurec, MS, MASCP, H(ASCP)DLM 

 LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this article, the reader will be able to:

  1. Discuss the technologies and advancements of today’s automated hematology instruments. 
  2. List the platelet indices that are useful in understanding certain disease states. 
  3. Describe the useful platelet indices in cancer, circulatory, and thrombotic diseases. 
  4. Describe the useful platelet indices in inflammatory concerns, metabolic concerns, infectious diseases, and other conditions.

About the Author

Anthony Kurec, MS, MASCP, H(ASCP)DLM is Clinical Associate Professor, Emeritus, at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY. He is also a member of the MLO Editorial Advisory Board.

Photo credit: 142502254 © Sebastian Kaulitzki | Dreamstime.com 

Not Enrolled

Course Includes

  • 1 Article
  • 1 Test
  • Course Certificate
  • MLO and Northern Illinois University (NIU), DeKalb, IL, are co-sponsors in offering continuing education units (CEUs) for this issue’s CE article. CEUs or contact hours are granted by the College of Health and Human Sciences at Northern Illinois University, which has been approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.® program. Continuing education credits awarded for successful completion of this test are acceptable for the ASCP Board of Registry Continuing Competence Recognition Program. Readers who pass the test successfully (scoring 70% or higher) will receive a certificate for 1 contact hour of P.A.C.E.® credit. The fee for this continuing education test is $20. This test was prepared by Amanda Voelker, MPH, MT(ASCP), MLS, Clinical Education Coordinator, School of Health Studies, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL.

    Level of Instruction:
    Passing scores of 70 percent or higher are eligible for contact hour of P.A.C.E. credit. This test is no longer valid for CEUs after .

    NIU is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E. ® Program.