Transfusion
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To investigate how a delay between pretransfusion platelet count measurement and actual platelet transfusion affects the assessment of platelet transfusion responses, the rate of reduction in platelet counts was determined in 30 patients with relatively uncomplicated thrombocytopenia. ⋯ The rate of reduction in platelet count can have a significant impact on the evaluation of platelet transfusion responses when there is a delay between pretransfusion measurement of platelet count and the initiation of platelet transfusion. In addition, the rate of platelet reduction determined from this study can be used to confirm an accelerated rate of platelet consumption in thrombocytopenic patients.