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Specimen Collection Manual and Test Catalog

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PLATELET COUNT FOR PATIENTS WITH PLATELET CLUMPING

Geisinger Epic Procedure Code:  LAB2859    Geisinger Epic ID:  47608

SPECIMEN COLLECTION
Specimen type: 

Whole blood


Preferred collection container: 
Alternate collection container: 
Other size blue-top (3.2% sodium citrate) tubes (e.g., 1.8 mL, 4.5 mL)
Specimen required: 

3.0 mL blue-top (sodium citrate) tube. (ONLY for patients where the platelets clump in EDTA anticoagulant). Do not warm tubes or place in heel warmer.



SPECIMEN PROCESSING
Processing instructions: 

Do NOT centrifuge.


Transport temperature: 

Room temperature.


Specimen stability: 

Room temperature: 24 hours.


Rejection criteria: 

Clotted, frozen, hemolyzed, overfilled, underfilled, or centrifuged samples. Specimens beyond stability limits.



TEST DETAILS
Reference interval: 

140-400 K/uL


Critical values/courtesy alerts: 
PLT <=20 and >=1000 K/uL
Additional information: 

Patients who still show clumped platelets will receive an estimate only (low, adequate, high). Deliver to Hematology as soon as possible. Do not warm tubes. Do not place in heel warmer


CPT code(s):  85049
Note: The billing party has sole responsibility for CPT coding.  Any questions regarding coding should be directed to the payer being billed.
The CPT codes provided by GML are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only.

Test includes: 

Quantitative determination of platelets.


Methodology: 
Electronic resistance detection enhanced by hydrodynamic focusing and flow cytometry
Synonyms: 

PLT Quantitative Platelet Count, PLTBL


Clinical significance: 

Both increases and decreases in the platelet count can point to abnormal conditions of excess bleeding or clotting. These bleeding or clotting disorders or bone marrow diseases require the determination of the number of platelets present and/or their ability to function correctly.


Doctoral Director(s): 
Mary Dhesi MD
Review Date:  01/08/2025

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