Common laboratory tests obtained in the thrombocytopenic patient at presentation.
| Complete blood count and differential review smear | Rule out: Multilineage involvement leukemia or aplastic/myelodysplasia Evaluate platelet size (giant or “dust-like”) |
| Reticulocyte count | Hemolytic anemia or chronic blood loss |
| Blood type, Rh, antibody screen | Possible anti-D antibody treatment |
| Autoimmune hemolytic disease | |
| Chemistry panel | Eliminate systemic disease, i.e., hemolytic uremic syndrome, hepatitis, hemolysis, occult malignancy with elevated LDH or uric acid |
| DIC screen | Sepsis, Kasabach-Merritt syndrome |
| Quantitative immunoglobulin levels | Rule out: common variable immune deficiency, Wiscott-Aldrich |
| Viral titers/PCR | Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, human immundeficiency virus |
| Collagen vascular panel (ANA, anti-DNA) | Older patients, especially those with more chronic onset |
| Complete blood count and differential review smear | Rule out: Multilineage involvement leukemia or aplastic/myelodysplasia Evaluate platelet size (giant or “dust-like”) |
| Reticulocyte count | Hemolytic anemia or chronic blood loss |
| Blood type, Rh, antibody screen | Possible anti-D antibody treatment |
| Autoimmune hemolytic disease | |
| Chemistry panel | Eliminate systemic disease, i.e., hemolytic uremic syndrome, hepatitis, hemolysis, occult malignancy with elevated LDH or uric acid |
| DIC screen | Sepsis, Kasabach-Merritt syndrome |
| Quantitative immunoglobulin levels | Rule out: common variable immune deficiency, Wiscott-Aldrich |
| Viral titers/PCR | Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, human immundeficiency virus |
| Collagen vascular panel (ANA, anti-DNA) | Older patients, especially those with more chronic onset |