blood disorders
Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP)
Diagnosis of ITP
Blood tests to measure platelet count and clotting Tests to rule out other disorders that cause a low platelet count and bleeding Doctors make the diagnosis of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) when the platelet count is less than 100,000 per microliter of blood (less than 100 × 109per liter) without a similar decrease in the number of red blood cells or white blood cells, and when there is no other clear explanation for thrombocytopenia such as an infection or use of certain drugs (see table). There is no well-established test to confirm that a person has ITP. The platelet count may be measured with an automated counter to determine the severity of thrombocytopenia, and a sample of blood must be examined under a microscope to provide clues to its cause. Doctors need to examine blood under a microscope to distinguish ITP from Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP) (TTP) and Rarely, a sample of bone marrow is removed and examined under a microscope ( Bone Marrow Examination ) to provide information about platelet production. 