RETICULOCYTE COUNT
- Code
- 100.6500
- Name
- RETICULOCYTE COUNT
- Category
- None
- Department
- Hematology
- Start Date
- Expiration Date
- Synonyms
- Retic
- CPT Codes
- 85045
- Site
- Main Lab
- Reference Test
Specimen Information
- Type
Lavender, EDTA
- Volume
1.5 mL
- Transport Info
Refrigerated
24 hour stability- Fasting Required?
- False
- Patient Instructions
- Reference Range
% Retic count: 0.5-2
Corrected Retic count: 0.5-2- Methodology
Flow Cytometry
Clinical Significance
Evaluate erythropoietic activity; increased in acute and chronic hemorrhage, hemolytic anemias; evaluate erythropoietic response to anti-anemic therapy.
The reticulocyte is an immature red blood cell from which the nucleus has been extruded. The reticulocyte count is a measure of effective erythropoiesis. In normal non-anemic state individual reticulocytes mature for 3 days in the marrow and are found in circulating blood only during the fourth day. The ribonucleic acid (RNA) of the reticulocyte disappears about a day after its entry into the blood. The counting of reticulocytes is an indication of the number of red blood cells being delivered by the marrow to the blood.