What Is a Reticulocyte Count?

The main physiological function of red blood cells is the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide through the hemoglobin contained in the cells. Red blood cells are produced in the bone marrow and enter the blood circulation when they mature. The proliferative development process of the red blood cell system in the bone marrow is: pluripotent stem cells unipotent stem cells primitive red blood cells early red blood cells young red blood cells late red blood cells reticulocytes mature red blood cells. Reticulocytes (RET) are immature red blood cells. Reticulocytes are a stage in the maturation of red blood cells. They are immature red blood cells that are about to become fully mature after the nucleus is removed. The basophilic RNA in the reticulocyte cytoplasm was stained with neomethylene blue and other living organisms, and condensed into a reticulated granular structure. The oil microscope counted the number of reticulocytes in 1,000 red blood cells. Reticulocyte count can be used to determine the hematopoietic condition of the bone marrow red blood cell system, to observe the curative effect, and to guide the use of clinical tumor chemotherapy.

Basic Information

Chinese name

Reticulocyte count

Meaning

Determine the hematopoietic status of the bone marrow red blood cell system

Clinical significance of reticulocyte count

1. Used to determine the hematopoietic condition of the bone marrow red blood cell system

(1) When the heavy metal poisoning is increased, the hemolytic anemia, megaloblastic anemia, malignant tumor, and bone marrow suppression can be seen to increase after recovery.

(2) Reduction is seen in patients with reduced red blood cell production and aplastic anemia.

2. Observation indicators for curative effect

In patients with good myeloproliferative function, the number of reticulocytes will generally increase after the administration of relevant anti-anemia drugs. If the number does not increase after the administration, the treatment is invalid.

3. Guide the clinical mastery of the appropriate period of tumor chemotherapy

After the bone marrow hematopoietic function is restored, the number of reticulocytes in the early and middle stages increases first, followed by an increase in the number of other parameters such as leukocytes and platelets. Therefore, the detection of reticulocytes in the early and middle stages is an indicator for observing bone marrow suppression and early recovery, and it is also a more sensitive indicator.

Reference range of normal reticulocyte count

1. Adults: 0.005 to 0.015 (0.5% to 2.0%).

2. Newborns: 0.02 to 0.06 (2.0% to 6.0%).