In this study, platelet counts and thrombopoietin levels of healthy term and preterm neonates were examined. 15 healthy preterm neonates with 27 - 34 weeks of gestational age and 9 full term neonates with 38 - 40 weeks of gestational age were included in the study. There was no statistically significant difference between the platelet counts of term and pre term neonates ( p > 0.05 ). Thrombopoietin levels of the preterm neonates ( 87 pg/ml ) were significantly higher than those of term neonates ( 62 pg/ml )( p < 0.05 ). This difference was most probably due to the fact that preterm neonates have lower medakaryocyte progenitor numbers compored to the term neonates. Neonates' thrombopoietin levels in our study were higher than the normal adult levels ( 25 - 28 pg/ml ) reported in the previous studies. However, the thrombopoietin levels in our study were lower than those of the other study which was also carried out with neonates. It was suggested that this difference could be the result of the postnatal age at which the blood samples were taken. In the other study mentioned above blood samples were taken immediately after birth. On the other hand in our study they were taken in 2 - 18 th postnatal days.