A reticulocyte count can help your doctor learn if your bone marrow is producing enough red blood cells. If your red blood cell count is too low or too high, your body will try to achieve a better balance by producing and releasing more or less reticulocytes.
Full Answer
Why would you get a reticulocyte count test?
Why You Might Get One. A reticulocyte count test is often done when someone is believed to have an illness called anemia, which happens when your body doesn’t make enough red blood cells. That can leave you feeling weak and tired, short of breath, or having headaches and chest pain.
Should I Have my reticulocyte count checked for anemia?
The reticulocyte count is an extremely valuable test when trying to determine the causes of anemia. That said, corrections should be made to account for the degree of anemia or the results (and subsequently, the possible diagnoses) could be erroneous. It's important to be your own advocate and ask about this test if you believe it should be done.
What does it mean if my reticulocytes are not elevated?
If the number of reticulocytes is not elevated when you are anaemic, then it is likely that there is some degree of bone marrow disease or failure and/or a deficiency of erythropoietin. Decreased reticulocyte percentages may be seen, for example, with:
What is included in a reticulocyte count?
A reticulocyte count is usually ordered along with (or after) a complete blood count (CBC). The complete blood count (CBC) includes the total number of the different types of blood cells present. Red blood cell count (RBCs) White blood cells (WBCs)
Why is the reticulocyte count so important in monitoring the treatment of anemia?
The reticulocyte count serves as an important tool to assess the bone marrow's ability to increase RBC production in response to an anemia. Reticulocytes are young RBCs that lack a nucleus but still contain residual ribonucleic acid (RNA) to complete the production of hemoglobin.
Why do we check reticulocyte count?
Why the Test is Performed. The test is done to determine if red blood cells are being created in the bone marrow at an appropriate rate. The number of reticulocytes in the blood is a sign of how quickly they are being produced and released by the bone marrow.
When should reticulocytes be checked?
A reticulocyte count test is often done when someone is believed to have an illness called anemia, which happens when your body doesn't make enough red blood cells. That can leave you feeling weak and tired, short of breath, or having headaches and chest pain.
Why would a physician order a reticulocyte count on a patient?
These red blood cells move oxygen from your lungs to every cell in your body. A reticulocyte count (retic count) measures the number of reticulocytes in the blood. If the count is too high or too low, it can mean a serious health problem, including anemia and disorders of the bone marrow, liver, and kidneys.
What does elevated reticulocyte count indicate?
A higher than normal reticulocytes count may indicate: Anemia due to red blood cells being destroyed earlier than normal ( hemolytic anemia ) Bleeding. Blood disorder in a fetus or newborn (erythroblastosis fetalis) Kidney disease, with increased production of a hormone called erythropoietin.
What is the principle of reticulocyte count?
The reticulocyte count can also be used to monitor bone marrow regenerative activity following chemotherapy or bone marrow transplantation. The detection and enumeration of reticulocytes in the laboratory are based on the principle of high levels of RNA in the reticulocytes in comparison to mature red cells.
What do low reticulocyte levels indicate?
A low reticulocyte count indicates that the bone marrow is not working well. Peripheral Blood Smear. A peripheral blood smear is a test in which a hematopathologist examines a drop of blood under a microscope to identify unusual changes in the number, size, shape, appearance and maturity of various blood cells.
Why reticulocyte count is low in iron deficiency anemia?
Hypochromic anemias: Iron deficiency anemia, sideroblastic anemia, beta-thalassemia, and anemia of chronic disease are all causes of a decreased reticulocyte count because they result in decreased hemoglobin synthesis.
What is the purpose of reticulocyte count?
The reticulocyte count is an extremely valuable blood test for determining the health of the bone marrow and can play a key role in the initial workup of anemia. Reticulocytes are "adolescent" red blood cells that have just been released from the bone marrow into the circulation and are present in the blood for only around one day ...
When is the absolute reticulocyte used?
When anemia is not present , the absolute reticulocyte may be used. With anemia, the reticulocyte count is corrected for the low hematocrit, and if very low, is corrected for changes that occur in relation to severe anemia.
What does it mean if your RPI is more than 2?
An RPI of more than 2 or 3 means the bone marrow is trying to compensate for the anemia (hyperproliferative anemia) Of note is that with mild anemia (hemoglobin of 12 or more or a hematocrit of 36 or higher), the maturation correction is 1 so the corrected reticulocyte count will be the same as the RPI.
What is the purpose of hematocrit test?
to evaluate low hemoglobin or hematocrit (anemia) to assess bone marrow function. to monitor treatment response after therapy is started for some types of anemia, such as that due to iron deficiency or vitamin B12 deficiency. to assess bone marrow function after chemotherapy.
How to calculate reticulocyte count?
The reticulocyte count is calculated by dividing the number of reticulocytes by the total number of red blood cells: Reticulocyte Count (Percent) = Number of Reticulocytes / Number of Red Blood Cells. When the red blood cell count is low (when anemia is present), the bone marrow usually responds by increasing the number of immature red blood cells ...
Why is the reticulocyte count misleading?
The reticulocyte count (known as absolute reticulocyte count) can be misleading when anemia is present, and one or two calculations (the corrected reticulocyte count and reticulocyte production index) may be needed to make sure the count accurately describes what is happening in the bone marrow. An Overview of Anemia.
What percentage of blood cells are reticulocytes?
The bone marrow is continually replenishing red blood cells so that roughly 1% of the red blood cells are reticulocytes at any time. A high reticulocyte count may be seen with bleeding or breakdown of red blood cells, as the bone marrow releases more reticulocytes to compensate for the loss.
What does it mean when your reticulocytes are higher than normal?
What do the results mean? If your results show a higher than normal amount of reticulocytes (reticulocytosis), it may mean: You have hemolytic anemia, a type of anemia in which red blood cells are destroyed faster than the bone marrow can replace them.
What does it mean when your reticulocyte count is too high?
A reticulocyte count (retic count) measures the number of reticulocytes in the blood. If the count is too high or too low, it can mean a serious health problem, including anemia and disorders of the bone marrow, liver, and kidneys.
What is the name of the red blood cells that are still developing?
Reticulocytes are red blood cells that are still developing. They are also known as immature red blood cells. Reticulocytes are made in the bone marrow and sent into the bloodstream. About two days after they form, they develop into mature red blood cells. These red blood cells move oxygen from your lungs to every cell in your body.
What is the condition where your blood has a lower than normal amount of red blood cells?
Anemia is a condition in which your blood has a lower than normal amount of red blood cells. There are several different forms and causes of anemia. See if treatment for anemia is working. See if bone marrow is producing the right amount of blood cells. Check bone marrow function after chemotherapy or a bone marrow transplant.
What tests are needed for anemia?
These tests may include a complete blood count, hemoglobin test, and/or hematocrit test. You may also need this test if you have symptoms of anemia. These include: Sometimes new babies are tested for a condition called hemolytic disease of the newborn.
What to do if you have questions about your blood test results?
If you have questions about your results or your child's results, talk to your health care provider. Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results.
How long does it take for a blood test to be done?
You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.
Why do we need a reticulocyte test?
Other Reasons to Get One. A reticulocyte count test measures the number of new red blood cells in your body. It’s sometimes called a reticulocyte index – or “retic count” for short. Doctors use it to help figure out whether you have certain types of illnesses that affect your blood, such as hemolytic anemia, a condition where red blood cells are ...
What is the purpose of reticulocyte count test?
A reticulocyte count test is also useful for people with sickle cell disease. That’s a disorder that makes your body produce red blood cells that are shaped like a crescent, or sickle, instead of being round. Sickle cells die early and can caught in blood vessels, forming obstructions that cut off circulation to parts of the body.
How do you know if your bone marrow is making the right amount of red blood cells?
When doctors want to know whether your bone marrow is making the right amount of red blood cells, they take a sample of blood and calculate the number of reticulocytes in it. If you’re like most people, reticulocytes make up about 0.5% to 1.5% of your red blood cells.
What does a lab tech do for a reticulocyte count?
When you get this test, a lab tech will take a sample of blood from one of your veins. In earlier years, doctors would put a drop of blood on a microscope slide and count the number of reticulocytes themselves. Today, machines calculate the results of nearly all reticulocyte count tests.
What are reticulocytes used for?
Doctors also use reticulocyte counts when someone has had: 1 Chemotherapy or radiation treatment for cancer 2 A bone marrow transplant 3 Other conditions that can affect production of red blood cells
What is the protein that makes blood red?
They carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. The iron-rich protein called hemoglobin that carries oxygen in the red blood cells is what makes our blood red. Because red blood cells only live about 4 months, your body constantly makes new ones, which are known as reticulocytes.
When to use reticulocyte count?
Reticulocyte count may also be used when you have a known iron or vitamin vitamin B12 or folate deficiency, known kidney disease, known bone marrow suppression as may occur during chemotherapy or bone marrow transplant.
Why is reticulocyte count important?
The reticulocyte count is used to help determine if the bone marrow is responding adequately to the body’s need for red blood cells (RBCs) and to help determine the cause of and classify different types of anaemia.
What happens when you lose RBCs?
If this steady state is disrupted by an increased loss of RBCs or by decreased production, then anaemia will develop. Increased loss of red blood cells may be due to severe and short term ( acute) or chronic bleeding haemorrhage) or haemolysis. The body compensates for this loss by increasing the rate of RBC production.
Why are my reticulocytes not elevated?
If the number of reticulocytes is not elevated when you are anaemic, then it is likely that there is some degree of bone marrow disease or failure and/or a deficiency of erythropoietin. Decreased reticulocyte percentages may be seen, for example, with: Iron deficiency anaemia. Pernicious anaemia or folic acid deficiency.
What is the procedure called to get a sample of bone marrow?
In some cases, a procedure called a bone marrow aspiration may be performed to obtain a sample of marrow to evaluate under the microscope. Sometimes this is the best way for a doctor to determine how well the bone marrow is functioning.
Where are RBCs produced?
They are produced in the bone marrow when stem cells differentiate and progress toward RBC development, eventually forming reticulocytes and finally mature RBCs. Most RBCs are fully mature before they are released from the bone marrow into the blood, but about 0.5 – 2% of the RBCs in circulation will be reticulocytes.
How long does it take for blood work to come back?
On average it takes 7 working days for the blood test results to come back from the hospital, depending on the exact tests requested. Some specialist test results may take longer, if samples have to be sent to a reference (specialist) laboratory. The X-ray & scan results may take longer.
Significance Of High Reticulocytes
To determine if the number of reticulocytes in your bloodstream is high, you must first be able to measure this all accurately. There are modern machines that utilize automated counters. By counting the number of reticulocytes in your bloodstream, they can then derive a plan to address this problem.
How To Find Reticulocytes
You are looking for signals that they can admit which will not be as strong as a typical lymphocyte, yet it will not be as weak as what a red blood cell typically puts out. In addition to this, you can look at the color of the reticulocytes. They tend to be somewhat blue in color or shade.
The Reticulocyte Production Index
This index is used to determine how quickly reticulocytes are formed, which is essential information, especially since higher than typical values can represent having anemia. They will then need to consider your genetics and the specific amount of bone marrow that you should have in your body.
What Is The Normal Range?
Once the calculation is complete, the data will need to be interpreted. Each measurement will be relative to the situation and the person. Questions must be asked why the count is so high, if it is, and what a normal range for this individual would typically be.
What If The Numbers Are Low?
If the numbers are low, chemotherapy may be why this is occurring. Cancer patients that are recovering from chemotherapy will usually have low reticulocyte numbers. They may also have aplastic anemia, or they may be suffering from specific deficiencies. Once this information is gathered, they can resolve the problem.
Protein Translation And Reticulocytes
Reticulocytes can process protein just like a regular red blood cell in most cases. However, they are unusual due to the lack of an actual nucleus. Because of its absence, reticulocytes are extremely difficult to process when it comes to why they are in such high or low numbers.
What Does A High Reticulocyte Count Mean?
In some cases, extremely high reticulocyte numbers are a good sign. For example, many people cannot produce enough red blood cells due to a lack of iron. As a result, they will often have iron infusions delivered directly into their veins.
Purpose of Test
Before The Test
- Blood for a reticulocyte count may be drawn in a hospital as well as many clinics. There is no dietary or activity restriction before having a reticulocyte count done. You should bring your insurance card to your appointment and any medical records (such as previous CBCs or reticulocyte counts) you have at another clinic for comparison.
During The Test
- The actual blood test usually takes only a few minutes. A lab technician will first clean the area overlying a vein (usually an arm vein) with an antiseptic and apply a tourniquet. The needle will then be inserted through your skin and into the vein. You will feel a sharp poke when the needle enters your skin and then some pressure as the sample is drawn. For some people, veins can b…
After The Test
- If you have your blood drawn in a lab, you will be able to leave right after the test and return to your clinic or home to be notified of the results. Side effects are uncommon, but may include bruising at the site of the draw (a hematoma), persistent bleeding, and rarely, infection.
Interpreting Results
- When your healthcare provider receives your results, she will either discuss them with you in the clinic or hospital or will call you by phone.