Question

What is the clinical significance of recticulocyte count

Answer 1

* Reticulocytes or red blood cells are produced in bone marrow which was released into blood flow before 2 days of becoming mature RBC. The life span of RBC are about 120 days helps in the transport of oxygen to tissues with help of heamoglobin. The normal fraction of reticulocytes in adults is(0.5 -2.5%) and infants is(2-6%).

* A reticulocyte test is used to determine the number or percentage of reticulocytes in blood to evaluate conditions that effect RBC during conditions like anemia and bone marrow disorders.

* Anemia( blood doesn't contains enough healthy RBC's) can be analysed by using the count. Women are having less RBC count compared to men as they lose blood during menstruation. Bone marrow disorders leads to the reduced production of red blood cells can also be known by using reticulocyte count.

* During some conditions the RBC levels rises compared to normal levels in people who are living at high altitudes can also be known by the reticulocyte count.