A platelet is the smallest type of blood cell. Platelets are the body's first defense against bleeding, helping the blood to clot (coagulate) by collecting at the site of a wound and clumping together to help stop the flow of blood.
People with very low levels of platelets or with bleeding disorders may need to have transfusions of platelets to prevent excessive bleeding.
| By | Healthwise Staff |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Joseph O'Donnell, MD - Hematology, Oncology |
| Last Revised | August 3, 2010 |
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