Reticulocytes | Laboratory research

Reticulocytes are young erythrocytes that result from the loss of the nucleus of normoblasts. The maturation time is 4-5 days, 3 days of which this process takes place in the peripheral blood. The number of reticulocytes reflects the regenerative processes in the bone marrow.

When should we test for reticulocytes?

It is recommended to take the test:

Determining the number of reticulocytes is important for detecting pathology and/or monitoring the treatment process, although it does not diagnose any specific disease. Further studies are needed. If the reticulocyte count increases after chemotherapy, bone marrow transplant, iron, vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency treatment, it means that the bone marrow is starting to make red blood cells.

How to prepare for the test?

It is not necessary to be fasting to conduct research.

Research material

Venous blood

Possible interpretation of the results

The increased number of reticulocytes in the blood may be due to the following factors;

• Acute posthemorrhagic anemia;
• Hemolytic anemia (especially during crisis);
• Further treatment of anemia caused by vitamin B 12 deficiency, remission of hypoplastic anemia;
• Bleeding, (if the patient has bleeding, then the number of reticulocytes will increase after a few days);
• Chronic bleeding;
• Hemolytic anemia and hemolytic disease of the newborn.

Decreased levels of reticulocytes in the blood can be due to the following factors:

• Reducing the intensity of blood production;
• Aplastic and iron deficiency anemias;
• Anemia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency;
• Receiving cytostatics;
• Radiation and radiation therapy;
• Kidney damage;
• Pernicious anemia;
• Various types of bone marrow damage or failure that can be caused by infection and / or cancer;
• Alcoholism;
• Endocrine diseases.