Retikulocytopgørelse

Retikulocytopgørelse refers to the process of counting reticulocytes, which are immature red blood cells. This measurement is a crucial indicator of the bone marrow's ability to produce red blood cells. Reticulocytes are typically released from the bone marrow into the bloodstream and mature into erythrocytes, or mature red blood cells, within one to two days.

The reticulocyte count is usually expressed as a percentage of the total red blood cell count. A normal reticulocyte count generally falls within a specific range, which can vary slightly between laboratories. However, an elevated reticulocyte count suggests that the bone marrow is actively responding to a need for more red blood cells, such as in cases of anemia caused by blood loss or hemolysis (the destruction of red blood cells). Conversely, a low reticulocyte count can indicate that the bone marrow is not producing enough red blood cells, which might be due to conditions like aplastic anemia, certain nutritional deficiencies (like vitamin B12 or folate deficiency), or bone marrow infiltration by disease.

The reticulocyte count is often performed as part of a complete blood count (CBC) and is a valuable tool for diagnosing and monitoring various hematological conditions. It helps physicians assess the effectiveness of treatments for anemia and evaluate the overall health of the bone marrow. Special stains are often used in microscopy to identify reticulocytes due to their characteristic network of ribosomal RNA. Automated hematology analyzers also commonly perform this count.