Reticulocytes are young, already nonnucleated precursors of erythrocytes (red blood cells). These develop from stem cells.
The formation of erythrocytes occurs in the bone marrow. In pathological processes (pathological conditions), also in the liver and spleen.
The procedure
Material needed
- EDTA blood
Preparation of the patient
- Not necessary
Disruptive factors
- None known
Standard values
| Age | Normal value in % of erythrocytes |
| 1st day of life | 15-65 |
| 3- Day of life | 13-60 |
| 5- day of life | 10-50 |
| 7th day of life | 5-15 |
| 1-4 weeks of life | 3-13 |
| 2 months | 3-15 |
| 3 months | 10-35 |
| 4 months | 5-25 |
| 6 months – 1 year | 3-13 |
| 2-12 years | 1-13 |
| 13-17 years | ♂ 1-13; ♀ 1-15 |
| Adults | 7-15 |
Indications
- Anemia (anemia)
- Follow-up of stem cell transplantation/administration of erythropoietin (synonyms: erythropoietin, EPO; hormone that promotes the formation and maturation of red blood cells).
Interpretation
Interpretation of elevated values (reticulocytosis; increased erythropoiesis (formation of mature erythrocytes/red blood cells) = hyperregenerative anemias).
- Acute hemorrhage, unspecified
- Chronic hypoxia – insufficient oxygen supply to the body.
- Hemolysis (dissolution of red blood cells) / hemolytic anemia.
- Reticulocyte crisis under substitution with iron or vitamin preparations (vitamin B12 / folic acid).
Interpretation of decreased values (decreased erythropoiesis = hyporegenerative anemias).
- Aplastic anemia – anemia characterized by a decrease in all cell series in the blood and a concomitant functional impairment of the bone marrow.
- Erythropoietin deficiency – deficiency of a growth factor (hormone) important for the production and formation of erythrocytes (red blood cells).
- Congenital (congenital) hypoplastic anemia.
- Megaloblastic anemia – form of anemia caused by a deficiency of vitamin B12 or folic acid.
- Panmyelopathy – failure of hematopoiesis (blood formation) with resulting pancytopenia (reduction of all cell series) in the peripheral blood.
- Radiotherapy
- Cytostatic therapy