A reticulocyte count measures the number of young red blood cells in the blood, indicating bone marrow function and response to treatment for anemia. High counts can indicate anemia, blood loss, or exposure to high altitudes, while low counts can indicate bone marrow disorders, kidney disease, or nutrient deficiencies. The test requires a blood sample and is often done alongside a complete blood count.
A reticulocyte count is a type of blood test that evaluates bone marrow function and how quickly blood is being produced. It is also done to evaluate the body’s response in treating certain blood disorders such as anemia. Reticulocytes are young or immature red blood cells usually found in the circulation in very small numbers, about one to two percent. They are produced in the bone marrow and released into the circulation. After about a day or two, they mature into red blood cells, which have a life span of about 120 days in circulation.
An increase or decrease in the number or percentage of reticulocytes in the blood can indicate a variety of disorders within the body. The term used for a large number of reticulocytes is reticulocytosis. Reticulocytosis often indicates that the bone marrow is producing more red blood cells (RBCs) in response to a decrease in red blood cells in the circulatory system. This could be due to blood loss, destruction of red blood cells in anemia, or exposure to high altitudes. Individuals who live in areas of high altitude often have higher reticulocyte counts as the body’s way of adjusting to the low level of oxygen.
A decrease in the reticulocyte count often indicates an inability of the bone marrow to make new red blood cells, such as with cancers and infections that occur in the bone marrow. Kidney disease can also reduce reticulocyte and red blood cell counts. Other causes of low reticulocyte count include iron deficiency, folate deficiency, and vitamin B12 deficiency. Radiation therapy also often affects red blood cell production in many patients, as it suppresses bone marrow function.
Doctors usually order a reticulocyte count and a complete blood count (CBC) to evaluate the body’s response in treating iron deficiency anemia and vitamin B12 deficiency anemia. Elevations in reticulocyte counts and other blood tests usually indicate that the bone marrow is responding well to such treatment. After bone marrow transplants, an increase in the reticulocyte count is also an indication of a successful transplant.
There are no special preparations for a reticulocyte count test. A phlebotomist draws a quantity of blood from a patient’s arm to be tested. The blood is then processed in the laboratory for a reticulocyte count and is read manually by trained laboratory personnel or by an automated method.
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