Platelet Aggregation Test

Why is the Test Performed?

This test is most often indicated when there is a bleeding tendency qualitatively similar to low-platelet bleeding despite normal platelet count (normal number of platelets).

Platelets (thrombocytes) are small cells in the bloodstream that are part of the blood clotting process. They are manufactured in the bone marrow. When bleeding occurs, platelets clump together at the site of injury, swell, and stick to the injured area, acting as a plug to reduce the bleeding.

Platelet aggregation tests help to diagnose diseases of platelet dysfunction and distinguish between inherited bleeding problems (such as hemophilia or von Willebrand disease) and acquired bleeding problems (those that occur because of another disorder or as a side-effect of medication).

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