Platelet count
The normal platelet count in an adult is about 130,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter (x 10-6/Liter) of blood. Platelet counts may vary by ethnicity.18,19
The following tables are adapted from Segal and Molitamo. Ann Epidemiol. 2006; 16:123-130:
Table 1. Geometric mean platelet counts for men, stratified by ethnicity and age
(x103/mL) (95% confidence interval)
| Unadjusted | Model 1 | Model 2 | Model 3 | |
| Non-Hispanic white | ||||
| 17–19 | 260 (254–266) | 258 (252–264) | 259 (254–264) | 258 (253–264) |
| 20–29 | 251 (245–257) | 250 (244–256) | 253 (247–258) | 252 (246–257) |
| 30–39 | 252 (245–258) | 251 (244–257) | 254 (247–261) | 253 (247–260) |
| 40–49 | 249 (245–255) | 249 (243–254) | 252 (247–257) | 251 (243–256) |
| 50–59 | 253 (245–260) | 254 (247–261) | 256 (250–263) | 256 (249–262) |
| 60–69 | 242 (235–249) | 243 (237–250) | 245 (239–252) | 245 (239–251) |
| >70 | 232 (226–239) | 235 (228–241) | 235 (229–242) | 235 (228–241) |
| Non-Hispanic black | ||||
| 17–19 | 271 (264–279) | 267 (260–274) | 275 (267–283) | 274 (266–282) |
| 20–29 | 262 (257–268) | 259 (253–265) | 267 (261–274) | 267 (261–273) |
| 30–39 | 263 (256–269) | 259 (253–266) | 269 (262–276) | 269 (262–276) |
| 40–49 | 260 (255–266) | 257 (251–263) | 267 (261–275) | 267 (260–273) |
| 50–59 | 264 (257–271) | 262 (255–270) | 272 (264–279) | 271 (264–279) |
| 60–69 | 252 (245–260) | 252 (245–259) | 260 (253–268) | 260 (253–269) |
| >70 | 242 (235–249) | 243 (236–250) | 250 (243–257) | 249 (242–256) |
| Mexican American | ||||
| 17–19 | 270 (263–277) | 266 (258–273) | 263 (255–270) | 262 (255–270) |
| 20–29 | 261 (255–267) | 257 (251–264) | 256 (250–263) | 256 (249–262) |
| 30–39 | 261 (254–268) | 258 (251–266) | 258 (250–265) | 257 (250–264) |
| 40–49 | 259 (252–266) | 256 (249–263) | 255 (248–262) | 255 (248–262) |
| 50–59 | 262 (255–270) | 261 (254–269) | 260 (252–267) | 260 (252–268) |
| 60–69 | 251 (244–259) | 251 (243–258) | 249 (242–256) | 248 (242–256) |
| >70 | 241 (234–249) | 242 (234–249) | 239 (231–246) | 238 (231–246) |
Table 2. Geometric mean platelet counts for women, stratified by ethnicity and age
(x103/mL) (95% confidence interval)
| Unadjusted | Model 1 | Model 2 | Model 3 | |
| Non-Hispanic white | ||||
| 17–19 | 284 (279–290) | 281 (276–287) | 280 (275–286) | 280 (275–285) |
| 20–29 | 275 (270–273) | 272 (268–277) | 273 (268–278) | 273 (267–278) |
| 30–39 | 275 (269–281) | 273 (267–279) | 275 (268–281) | 275 (268–281) |
| 40–49 | 273 (267–277) | 271 (266–275) | 272 (267–277) | 272 (267–277) |
| 50–59 | 276 (270–283) | 276 (270–283) | 277 (272–284) | 277 (271–283) |
| 60–69 | 264 (258–272) | 264 (259–272) | 266 (259–272) | 265 (259–272) |
| >70 | 254 (247–261) | 255 (249–263) | 255 (248–261) | 254 (248–261) |
| Non-Hispanic black | ||||
| 17–19 | 300 (290–304) | 291 (284–298) | 297 (290–304) | 297 (290–305) |
| 20–29 | 287 (281–292) | 282 (276–287) | 290 (284–296) | 289 (283–295) |
| 30–39 | 287 (281–293) | 283 (277–288) | 292 (285–298) | 291 (285–298) |
| 40–49 | 284 (278–289) | 280 (275–285) | 289 (283–295) | 289 (283–295) |
| 50–59 | 288 (282–295) | 286 (279–292) | 294 (287–301) | 294 (288–301) |
| 60–69 | 276 (269–283) | 274 (267–282) | 282 (275–289) | 281 (274–289) |
| >70 | 265 (258–272) | 264 (257–272) | 270 (263–277) | 270 (263–277) |
| Mexican American | ||||
| 17–19 | 295 (288–302) | 290 (283–297) | 284 (277–292) | 284 (277–292) |
| 20–29 | 285 (279–291) | 280 (275–287) | 277 (271–284) | 277 (271–284) |
| 30–39 | 285 (278–292) | 281 (275–288) | 279 (271–286) | 279 (272–287) |
| 40–49 | 283 (277–289) | 278 (272–284) | 276 (270–283) | 277 (270–283) |
| 50–59 | 287 (279–294) | 285 (277–292) | 281 (274–289) | 282 (275–289) |
| 60–69 | 274 (267–281) | 273 (266–280) | 269 (262–277) | 269 (262–277) |
| >70 | 263 (256–271) | 263 (255–271) | 258 (250–266) | 258 (251–267) |
References
18. Ferri FF. Practical Guide to the Care of the Medical Patient. 3rd ed. St Louis, MO: Mosby, 2001.
19. Segal JB, Moliterno AR. Platelet counts differ by sex, ethnicity, and age in the United States. Ann Epidemiol. 2006;16:123-130.
