Reticulocyte count

A blood sample is needed.

No special preparation is necessary.

When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or a slight bruise. This soon goes away.

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.

A normal result for healthy adults who are not anemic is 0.5% to 2.5%. The normal range depends on your blood level of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. The range is higher if hemoglobin is low, from bleeding or if red cells are destroyed. Normal value ranges may vary slightly…

A higher than normal reticulocyte 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 cysts or tumors, with increased production of a hormone called erythropoietin Pregnancy A lower…

There is little risk involved with having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another and from one side of the body to the other. Taking blood from some people may be more difficult than from others. Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight but may include: Excessive…

Culligan D, Watson HG. Blood and bone marrow. In: Cross SS, ed. Underwood's Pathology . 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 23. Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM. Blood disorders. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics . 21st ed.…