I Went In For Blood Labs At 0830 And Discovered

Posted on Tue, 22 Oct 2019

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 22 Oct 2019 Answered on

Last reviewed on

Question : I went in for blood labs at 0830 and discovered my platelet count was at 54000. They then repeated the labs and my platelet count went up to 60000. I am still waiting on other lab results. My question is concerned with HIV. I am a 19 year old male who has had unprotected sex on multiple occasions. However I was tested back in October of 2018 and had not had sex till roughly 15Sep2018. I am wondering how quickly HIV can impact the platelet count, as well as HEP C. I greatly appreciate you taking time out of your day to answer my question. Thank you!

Follow up: Dr. Olgeta Xhufka (3 minutes later)

till 15Sep2019 not 2018

Answered by Dr. Olgeta Xhufka (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Not much related to HIV infection.

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, welcome to Ask a doctor service.
I read your query and here is my advice.

You are having really low platelets count.
I dont believe that HIV can cause this low platelets so fast. Low platelets often happen in end stages of HIV and hepatitis C which means you should have had many of other symptoms such repeated respiratory tract infections, urinary track infection of other infection before discovering the low platelets count.
Also you have been tested HIV negative about a year ago and it can't happen that HIV infection can cause that low platelets in a year.
Anyway you can do a HIV test if you have had unprotected intercourse with potentially infected persons.

I believe you should do other tests such a total blood count with formula, microscopy of platelets, liver and blood chemistry.
Also a bone marrow smear nay be needed.

So as a conclusion the low platelets count you are having is not likely to be caused by HIV infection.

Hope I have answered the question.
Let me know if I can assist you further.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng