Useful For

Reticulocytes are immature red blood cells with a life span in peripheral blood of 1 to 2 days, before they mature to RBC.  The reticulocyte count is a relatively accurate reflection of the amount of effective red cell production taking place in the bone marrow.  The test is performed routinely to aid in anemia classification.  A decreased retic count is found in aplastic anemia and in conditions in which the bone marrow is not producing RBC. Increased retic counts are found in hemolytic anemias, post iron therapy in iron deficiency anemia, thalassemia, sideroblastic anemia, and in acute and chronic blood loss.