Introduction: The platelet number alone does not give a complete picture of platelet maturity and function. Therefore, platelet indices have been the subject of intensive study in recent years, but they have not been firmly established in the neonates. Aims and objectives: To determine the platelet indices in the healthy and sick neonates admitted in the department of paediatrics. Methods: It was a prospective study conducted in neonates born in PES institute of medical sciences and research and other neonatal cases referred for management of disease conditions. Platelet count and its indices were derived for total 140 neonates from the automated haematology analyser SYSMEX × s1000i. A detailed clinical history of neonates was obtained. Results: Out of 140 neonates, 84 (60%) male and 56 (40%) were female. There were no significant differences of platelet indices between healthy neonates 33 (23.6%) and sick neonates 107 (76.4%), between healthy full term 22 (66.7%) and sick full term 93 (6.9%), between healthy preterm 11 (33.3%) and sick preterm 14 (13.1%). Conclusion: These data indicate that platelet indices of neonates showed no significance in values between healthy neonates and sick neonates. Further studies will be needed in clinical application of platelet indices in neonates.

Keywords: Platelet indices; Neonates; Mean platelet volume (MPV).