Avoiding Spurious Low Platelet Counts by Redrawing Specimens with First Time Low Platelet Counts

Abstract

Introduction

We reviewed our policy of redrawing our pediatric patients with first time platelet counts <100 K/ml to assess the frequency of correction.

Materials and methods

In a Children’s Hospital 25-month review of patients that underwent automatic redraws due to low first time platelet counts, we determined the frequency of corrected counts and the sites where these original low platelet counts originated. Only the repeat draw results were reported.

Results

Of 99 children with redrawn specimens, 62% of platelet counts corrected. The most frequent corrections occurred in specimens from the emergency department (74%), pediatric intensive care (71%), and operating room (67%), the fewest from the cardiac intensive care (38%) and general hospital floors (44%).

Conclusions

The policy of redrawing patients with first time platelet counts <100 K resulted in correction in 62%, and avoided delays and additional charges for repeat testing ordered by the provider.

Keywords:

• Thrombocytopenia
• spurious
• pediatric

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Barbara Robinson, MT, ASCP for her assistance in collecting the data.

Disclosure statement

The author has no conflict of interest to disclose.

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.