Get tested with Superpower

If you’ve been postponing blood testing for years or feel frustrated by doctor appointments and limited lab panels, you are not alone. Standard healthcare is often reactive, focusing on testing only after symptoms appear or leaving patients in the dark.

Superpower flips that approach. We give you full insight into your body with over 100 biomarkers, personalized action plans, long-term tracking, and answers to your questions, so you can stay ahead of any health issues.

With physician-reviewed results, CLIA-certified labs, and the option for at-home blood draws, Superpower is designed for people who want clarity, convenience, and real accountability - all in one place.

Key benefits of Platelet Count testing

• Measures cells that stop bleeding and form clots throughout your body.
• Spots clotting disorders that may cause unusual bruising or prolonged bleeding.
• Flags bone marrow problems that affect blood cell production early.
• Guides safe use of blood thinners and monitors treatment response.
• Explains fatigue or infection risk when paired with complete blood count.
• Tracks immune conditions like ITP that destroy platelets and cause symptoms.
• Protects surgical safety by confirming normal clotting ability before procedures.
• Best interpreted with white and red cell counts for full picture.

What is Platelet Count?

Platelet count measures the number of platelets circulating in your blood. Platelets (also called thrombocytes) are tiny, disc-shaped cell fragments produced in your bone marrow from large parent cells called megakaryocytes. Unlike red and white blood cells, platelets have no nucleus - they're essentially packets of clotting machinery released into your bloodstream.

Your body's emergency repair crew

Platelets are your first responders to blood vessel injury. When a vessel is damaged, platelets rush to the site, stick to the injured area, and clump together to form a plug. They also release chemical signals that activate the clotting cascade, turning liquid blood into a stable clot.

A window into bone marrow and clotting health

Your platelet count reflects how well your bone marrow is producing these cells and how quickly they're being used or destroyed. It provides insight into your bleeding risk, clotting tendency, and bone marrow function. Because platelets survive only 7–10 days in circulation, their count can shift relatively quickly in response to illness, medication, or bone marrow changes.

Why is Platelet Count important?

Platelet count measures the number of platelets circulating in your blood - tiny cell fragments that form the first line of defense against bleeding. These cells rush to sites of vessel injury, clump together, and trigger the clotting cascade that stops blood loss. A typical range runs from 150,000 to 400,000 platelets per microliter, with optimal values generally sitting in the middle to upper-middle zone.

When your body can't stop bleeding easily

When platelet counts drop below normal, your blood loses its ability to clot efficiently. You may notice easy bruising, prolonged bleeding from minor cuts, or spontaneous nosebleeds and gum bleeding. Severe drops can lead to internal bleeding, including dangerous bleeding in the brain or digestive tract, and may signal bone marrow disorders, autoimmune destruction, or medication effects.

When clotting tips toward overdrive

Elevated platelet counts can thicken the blood and raise the risk of abnormal clot formation in arteries and veins. This increases the chance of stroke, heart attack, or deep vein thrombosis. High counts may reflect chronic inflammation, iron deficiency, or bone marrow disorders that overproduce platelets.

The balance that protects circulation and tissue

Platelet count sits at the crossroads of bleeding risk and clotting risk, influencing cardiovascular health, surgical safety, and immune function. Monitoring this biomarker helps detect hidden bone marrow disease, inflammatory states, and clotting disorders before they cause life-threatening events.

What do my Platelet Count results mean?

Low platelet count

Low values usually reflect reduced bone marrow production, increased destruction in the bloodstream or spleen, or dilution from fluid shifts. This condition, called thrombocytopenia, impairs clotting ability and may cause easy bruising, prolonged bleeding from minor cuts, or spontaneous bleeding when counts drop significantly. Common causes include viral infections, autoimmune conditions where the body attacks its own platelets, certain medications, liver disease with splenic enlargement, or bone marrow disorders. Pregnancy can cause mild physiologic drops that typically remain safe.

Optimal platelet count

Being in range suggests balanced production and turnover of platelets, supporting normal hemostasis without excess clotting risk. Most healthy adults maintain counts in the mid-to-upper portion of the reference range, reflecting steady bone marrow output and appropriate platelet lifespan.

High platelet count

High values usually reflect increased bone marrow production in response to inflammation, iron deficiency, bleeding, tissue injury, or removal of the spleen. This condition, called thrombocytosis, can be reactive and temporary or stem from primary bone marrow disorders where platelet-producing cells proliferate abnormally. Elevated counts may increase clotting risk, though reactive elevations often resolve as the underlying trigger improves.

Factors that influence platelet count

Platelet counts vary with acute illness, recent surgery, medications including chemotherapy and heparin, and chronic inflammatory states. Pregnancy typically causes mild decreases. Extreme exercise and dehydration can transiently elevate counts.