Laboratory Lab results are too important to go anywhere else.

Reticulocyte Count

Retic, Absolute Reticulocyte Count

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB5158, Antrim: 20731

Department

Hematology

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect (preferred specimen): One 4.0 mL Lavender-top K₂EDTA tube. (Minimum: 2.0 mL)
Also acceptable: One Lavender-top K₂EDTA Microtainer^®. (Minimum: 300 mcL)
See Minimum Pediatric Specimen Requirements for Microtainer^® collection.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Specimens may be maintained at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F) or refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F) prior to transport.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: Whole blood or capillary blood, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 2.0 mL whole blood or 300 mcL capillary blood)

Rejection Criteria

• Frozen specimens.
• Insufficient volume.
• Specimens containing hemolysis or clots.
• Centrifuged specimens. 

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 8 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 72 hours
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days

Laboratory

Dearborn Hematology Laboratory
Farmington Hills Hematology Laboratory
Grosse Pointe Hematology Laboratory
Royal Oak Hematology Laboratory
Taylor Hematology Laboratory
Trenton Hematology Laboratory
Troy Hematology Laboratory
Wayne Blood Bank

Performed

Sunday – Saturday, 24 hours a day.
Results available within 90 minutes of receipt in the Laboratory.

Reference Range

Adult: 21-100 bill/L.

Please see Hematology Pediatric Ranges.

IRF
Female: 0.02-0.14.
Male: 0.01-0.16.

RET-He
Female: 31.9-37.1 pg.
Male: 30.6-37.9 pg. 

Test Methodology

SYSMEX XN Series.

Clinical Utility

The reticulocyte count is a measure of red cell production. An increased reticulocyte count indicates increased erythropoietic activity while a decreased reticulocyte count indicates decreased erythropoietic activity or bone marrow suppression. The IRF is a measure of an early reticulocyte response.

RET-He is a measure of the amount of hemoglobin in each reticulocyte. When reticulocytes are first released from the bone marrow, measurement of their hemoglobin content can provide a snapshot of the amount of iron available for incorporation into the newly produced red blood cell hemoglobin. If RET-He in reticulocytes is decreased, it is an indication of inadequate iron supply to the bone marrow relative to demand. RET-He results that are below the normal range suggest that the patient may have iron deficiency.

An exception would include patients with thalassemia who may have lower RET-He results due to the small size of the RBCs and may not necessarily be iron deficient. However, when RET-He is used in conjunction with the reticulocyte count and the immature reticulocyte fraction (IRF), it can improve screening of patients with anemia, especially those with iron deficiency anemia.

CPT Codes

85046

Contacts

Last Updated

10/3/2023