Minimum Platelet Count for Thoracentesis Safety

A 70-year-old patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is scheduled for a thoracentesis to remove excess pleural fluid. The nurse is preparing the patient for the procedure and must assess the laboratory values to ensure safety. One critical value to monitor prior to the procedure is the patient's platelet count. During the assessment, the nurse notes that the patient's platelet count is ______. Based on normal ranges, what would be the safe minimum platelet count (in thousands/mm³) to proceed with thoracentesis?