Find Locations
For hours, walk-ins and appointments.Test Includes
Reticulocytes are expressed as a percentage in a total of 1000 RBCs.
Expected Turnaround Time
Within 1 day
Turnaround time is defined as the usual number of days from the date of pickup of a specimen for testing to when the result is released to the ordering provider. In some cases, additional time should be allowed for additional confirmatory or additional reflex tests. Testing schedules may vary.
Related Documents
Specimen Requirements
Specimen
Whole blood
Volume
Tube fill capacity
Minimum Volume
500 μL for Microtainer™ (capillary) specimens (Note: This volume does not allow for repeat testing.)
Container
Lavender-top (EDTA) tube
Collection
Invert tube immediately 8 to 10 times once tube is filled at time of collection.
Storage Instructions
Refrigerate
Stability Requirements
Temperature | Period |
|---|---|
Room temperature | 1 day |
Refrigerated | 3 days |
Frozen | Unstable |
Freeze/thaw cycles | Unstable |
Causes for Rejection
Hemolysis; specimen more than 72 hours old; clotted specimen; tube not filled with minimum volume; improper labeling; transfer tubes with whole blood; specimen diluted or contaminated with I.V. fluid; specimen drawn in any anticoagulant other than EDTA; specimen received with plasma removed
Test Details
Use
Evaluate erythropoietic activity which is increased in acute and chronic hemorrhage, and hemolytic anemias; evaluate erythropoietic response to antianemic therapy
Limitations
Caution should be exercised with recently transfused patients (reticulocytes may decrease on a dilutional basis due to transfusion).
Methodology
Automated cell counter
Contraindications
Patients receiving a large number of blood transfusions
Additional Information
Reticulocytes stained with a fluorescent reagent can be differentiated from mature red cells and other cell populations by light scatter, direct measurements, and opacity characteristics when using an automated hematology analyzer equipped with reticulocyte counting technology.
LOINC® Map
| Order Code | Order Code Name | Order Loinc | Result Code | Result Code Name | UofM | Result LOINC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 005280 | Reticulocyte Count | 17849-1 | 005280 | Reticulocyte Count | % | 17849-1 |
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The LOINC® codes are copyright © 1994-2021, Regenstrief Institute, Inc. and the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) Committee. Permission is granted in perpetuity, without payment of license fees or royalties, to use, copy, or distribute the LOINC® codes for any commercial or non-commercial purpose, subject to the terms under the license agreement found at https://loinc.org/license/. Additional information regarding LOINC® codes can be found at LOINC.org, including the LOINC Manual, which can be downloaded at LOINC.org/downloads/files/LOINCManual.pdf