The platelet indices provided by the hematological analyzers are probably the parameters mostly ignored by most clinical laboratories due to standardization difficulties. Among those indices, the mean platelet volume (MPV) has stood out due to its usefulness not only in cases of thrombosis and hemostasy, but also in a series of pathologies, such as diabetes, thyroid and vascular diseases, among others. MPV is a platelet parameter provided by the hemogram, which does not represent additional costs to the laboratory. Along with platelet count, it is a sensitive indicator of platelet disorders in vivo. However, it may be technically difficult to analyze it in vitro owing to preanalytical interferences, such as sample storage time and anticoagulant artifacts. In this article we described the main methodologies and the interfering factors in determining platelet count and MPV, highlighting the importance of the clinical laboratory analyses to validate this parameter, allowing its use in the diagnosis of hematological disorders and other pathologies.
Platelets; Mean platelet volume; Impedance; Optical density
