Low brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in serum of depressed patients probably results from lowered platelet BDNF release unrelated to platelet reactivity.

By F. Karege, G. Bondolfi, N. Gervasoni, M. Schwald, J. Aubry, G. Bertschy. Biological Psychiatry, 2005

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Major depression after breast cancer: a review of epidemiology and treatment. (2008, background): “Levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a trophic protein important in modulating neuronal synaptic plasticity and essential to long-term memory [89], are decreased in depressed patients [90,91] and can be increased with antidepressant treatment [92].”
Role of neurotrophic factors in depression. (2007, background): “Interestingly, several studies have found decreased blood levels of BDNF in depressed patients and, again, antidepressant therapy appears to normalize this change [6,7]; however, the relevance of these findings to the action of BDNF in the brain remains to be established.”
A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical studies on major depression and BDNF levels: implications for the role of neuroplasticity in depression. (2008, background): “Moreover, blood BDNF is stored in platelets, and lower serum BDNF levels in depressed patients might be related to lowered platelet release (Karege et al., 2005).”
The role of BDNF and its receptors in depression and antidepressant drug action: Reactivation of developmental plasticity (2010, background): “Interestingly, there does not appear to be any alterations in BDNF levels in whole blood of depressed patients (Karege et al., 2005).”