A patient with malaria may have an automated platelet count that is falsely elevated.
Potential mechanisms:
(1) microerythrocytes containing trophozoites/schizonts
(2) fluorescent method for counting platelet count staining (using dye that stains mRNA and mitochondria)
Reasons to suspect:
(1) machine display of platelet distribution showing different populations
(2) clinical suspicion
(3) concurrent blood smear review
Differential diagnosis (other causes of falsely elevated automated platelet counts)::
(1) protein aggregates
(2) red cell fragments
(3) white cell fragments
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Specialty: Clinical Laboratory, Infectious Diseases
