Hematology - Reticulocytes, Manual Methods, Histograms

Question 1

What is the reference range for reticulocytes in an adult?

Answer 1

0.5-1.5%

Question 2

What is the reference range for reticulocytes in a newborn?

Answer 2

2-6%

-by 1-2 weeks of age, normal values are the same as for adults

Question 3

How do reticulocytes stain on a Wright stain?

Answer 3

polychromatophilic RBCs

Question 4

What is the significance of a high reticulocyte count?

Answer 4

increased erythropoiesis

-always elevated in hemolytic states in which there is a normal compensatory bone marrow response

Question 5

How is the reticulocyte determined by the manual method?

Answer 5

-stain with methylene blue
-1000 RBCs are examined and the # containing reticulum is noted (cells must contain 2 or more)
-the % is determined by dividing the # of retics per 1000 RBCs by 10

Example: 100 retics are counted, the reticulocyte count is 10%