RETICULOCYTES COUNT

 RETICULOCYTES

• Reticulocytes us otherwise known as immature red blood cell.
• Reticulocytes develop and mature in the bone marrow and then circulate for about 24 hour in the blood stem before developing into mature red blood cells.
• It is slightly larger than matured RBC.
• The cytoplasm contains the reticular network or reticulum.
• The reticulum of reticulocytes stains with supravital stain.

RETICULOCYTES COUNT

A reticulocytes count is used to determine the number or percentage of reticulocytes. In the blood to help evaluate condition that effect red blood cell such anemia or bone marrow disorders.

PRINCIPLE OF RETICULOCYTES COUNT.

Supravital stain is used for reticulocytes count. Blood is mixed with the stain and stain enter the cell in living condition. Reticulocytes contains ribosomes and RNA which stain with supravital stain and appears as blue filamentous or granular material.

REQUIREMENTS

• Test tube
• Specimen
• Water bath
• Microscope
• New methylene blue .
• Pipette

Composition of new methylene blue.

PROCEDURE

1. Take 2-3 drop of dye solution into a small test tube.
2. Add 2-3 drop of patients EDTA blood and mix.
3. Incubate at 37°C in a water-bath for 15-20 minutes.
4. Take a drop of mixed solution of blood and stain on a clean grease free slide.
5. Prepare a smear of this mixture by using spreader slide.
6. Air dry and observe for about 15 field and count both reticulocytes and RBC.

CALCULATION

RC = number of counted reticulocytes ×100

                     Number of counted RBC

S.I Unit = %

NORMAL VALUE

In infant -- 2-6%

In adult -- 0-1%

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE