What is the normal range for platelet count in a healthy adult?

The normal range for platelet count in a healthy adult is typically between 150,000 and 400,000 platelets per microliter of blood. This range is critical for maintaining hemostasis, the process that prevents and stops bleeding. Platelets play a crucial role in blood clotting by adhering to sites of vessel injury and aggregating to form clots.

The range provided in the chosen answer reflects the general consensus in clinical laboratory standards, which helps healthcare providers identify conditions such as thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) or thrombocytosis (high platelet count). Values below the normal range can indicate bone marrow disorders, certain medications, or conditions like aplastic anemia, whereas values above the normal range may suggest possible inflammatory diseases or myeloproliferative disorders.

The other ranges provided do not accurately reflect the established standards for a healthy adult's platelet count, leading to potential misinterpretation of a patient's hemostatic status.