Questions

Hi
I was diagnosed in Dec 2024 with a platelet count of 79.  I have a hematologist appt in July.  since then with other blood work my numbers have gone from 79 to 86 to 101.

Could this be a one time thing and I am now heading back to normal?

Do blood counts have a margin of error.  If my hemoglobin is 112 does that mean that's it or is there a leeway of 1 or 2 up and down?
Several of my CBC numbers are below normal of above by only 1 point.

Thanks
Don

Hi Don,
I think these are all questions for your haematologist. I certainly can't answer them. But with your current and recent counts, there's no need to worry. They're below average but still quite healthy. Many people here have had and/or live with lower counts. As you have an appointment in July you have a good chance of keeping things under control.
Good luck with it,
Margaret

Don I agree with Margaret, your questions are best answered by your hematologist - be sure you write down all your questions and take with you to your appt in July (I have to do that or I forget them ).

A count of 79 is good in my book - do you have any symptoms of a low count?

Please keep us posted - let us know what your hematologist has to say!! We care about you!

Yes, the measurements have a margin of error and, joy, it's different at different ranges. I've been in the single digits (well, single thousands) and variations in that range (undetectable vs 5, for example) weren't considered significant byt the hematologists. One thing i read gave an uncertainty of 4% above 50k, 10% below, with a bias towards over counting in the low range.

If the 4% is right, it seems your numbers still indicate increase.

Also, ITP patients have more natural variability. So a regular series of measurements of an ITP patient will have the variation due to the equipment and due to the natural variation.

judielaine wrote: Yes, the measurements have a margin of error and, joy, it's different at different ranges.  I've been in the single digits (well, single thousands) and variations in that range (undetectable vs 5, for example) weren't considered significant byt the hematologists. One thing i read gave an uncertainty of 4% above 50k, 10% below, with a bias towards over counting in the low range.

If the 4% is right, it seems your numbers still indicate increase.

Also, ITP patients have more natural variability. So a regular series of measurements of an ITP patient will have the variation due to the equipment and due to the natural variation.

A 10 % inaccuracy at platelet count 10 is just 1. It could be one off. Now, 5 to an actual of 0 would be a 100% inaccuracy. A 0 is much worse than 5, because a 0 suggests no clotting factor at all. A 5 could suggest some super-platelets that could get the job done. Not saying that your hematologist didn't suggest otherwise, but I would feel much better about a 5, than a 0. AI agrees, or at least when I just asked. I have yet to see less than 5, though, so...

As far as the original post, yes, the numbers don't sound too bad, at the assumed lack of medication. Doesn't seem like your (Don's) immune system is fighting your platelets.

My numbers, personally, just go down without medication kicking into a response mode. At least as far as I can tell, without daily tests. So, therefore, my immune system is continually fighting my platelets, when not medicated. Which means of course, that I have the exact described symptoms of ITP.

Actually, the lab i use records "undetectable" for 3 and below. They may know that the 10% difference from one source didn't apply to their lab counter.

judielaine wrote: Actually, the lab i use records "undetectable" for  3 and below. They may know that the 10% difference from one source didn't apply to their lab counter.

Oh, didn't know that undetectable can be 3. Thanks.