Spurious thrombocytopenia

Abstract

Nowadays automated blood cell analysis is being widely used. When the history and physical examination do not suggest a defect in hemostasis, the thrombocyte count is found low in blood with the anticogulants EDTA or citrate although a blood film prepared directly from blood optained by finger puncture reveales normal thrombocytes. This thrombocytopenia is called pseudo or spurious thrombocytopenia. Here, sharing our experience on a pseudothromboctopenic child, we want to point to this topic altough it is less common in pediatric patients than adults. (Turk Arch Ped 2009; 44: 73-4)