JPAC Joint United Kingdom (UK) Blood Transfusion and Tissue Transplantation Services Professional Advisory Committee

Platelet Count

Obligatory1. Platelet Component Donors:
Must not donate if:

a) The pre-donation platelet count is less than 150 x 109/l.

b) The predicted post-donation platelet count is less than 100 x 109/l.

c) The platelet count is known to be more than 500 x 109/l.

2. Whole Blood Donors:
Must not donate if:

a) The platelet count is known to be less than 100 x 109/l.

b) The platelet count is known to be more than 500 x 109/l.
Discretionary1. Platelet Component Donors:
a) If the predicted post-donation platelet count is less than 100 x 109/l but more than 80 x109/l, discuss with a 'Designated Clinical Support Officer'. Under exceptional circumstances and with the donor's informed consent, accept.

b) If a platelet count of more than 500 x 109/l has been investigated and no cause that would lead to deferral has been found, with the permission of a 'Designated Clinical Support Officer', accept.
See if RelevantImmune Thrombocytopenia
Thrombocytosis
Additional InformationTaking a platelet donation from a donor with a platelet count lower than 150 x 109/l is unlikely to provide a therapeutic dose.

Leaving a platelet donor with a post-donation count below 80 x 109/l can leave them at risk of bleeding if they are involved in any form of trauma. As an example, a post-donation faint causing a head injury could have serious consequences.

Platelet counts of less than 100 x 109/l or more than 500 x 109/l may be due to an underlying disease process and should be investigated.
InformationPart of this entry is a requirement of the Blood Safety and Quality Regulations 2005.
Reason for changeThe entry has been extended to provide advice for whole blood donors and for all donors with high platelet counts.

Relevant links have been added.
Donor InformationIf you wish to obtain more information regarding a personal medical issue please contact your National Help Line.

Please do not contact this web site for personal medical queries, as we are not in a position to provide individual answers.

Update Information

This entry was last updated in:
DSG-WB Edition 203, Release 01.