Reticulocyte Count

Principle

Reticulocytes immature red blood cells hote hain jinke andar abhi bhi RNA hota hai. Ye RNA special dyes se stain hota hai, jaise new methylene blue ya brilliant cresyl blue. Jab hum is stain se reticulocytes ko dekhte hain, to ye net ya granular pattern dikhate hain microscope mein. Reticulocyte count se pata chalta hai ki bone marrow kitni achhi tarah naye RBC bana raha hai.

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Requirements

• Blood sample: whole blood EDTA.

• Stain: New methylene blue ya brilliant cresyl blue.

• Glass slides 

• Pipettes

• Test tubes 

• Microscope 

• Timer

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Specimen

• Fresh EDTA mein anticoagulated whole blood.

• Sample ko 2 se 6 ghante ke andar test karna chahiye for accurate result.

• Hemolyzed ya clotted blood sample use nahi karna.

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Procedure

1. Blood aur stain ko equal volume mein mix karo (jaise 2 drops blood + 2 drops new methylene blue).

2. Gently mix karke room temperature par 10-15 minute ke liye incubate karo.

3. Incubation ke baad ek thin blood smear slide par banao.

4. Smear ko hawa mein sookhne do, heat ya fix mat karo kyunki stain destroy ho sakta hai.

5. Microscope mein oil immersion lens (100x) se dekho.

6. Reticulocytes ko count karo — ye mature RBC se bade aur blue reticular pattern wale dikhai denge.

7. Kam se kam 1000 RBCs count karo aur unmein se reticulocytes ki ginti karo.

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Calculation

Reticulocyte% = (Reticulocytes counted / Total RBCs counted) × 100​

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Normal Range

• Adult mein reticulocyte count normal hota hai 0.5% se 1.5% RBC ke andar.

• Newborns mein thoda zyada hota hai because unka RBC production zyada hota hai.

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Clinical Significance

Reticulocyte Count Zyada Hona (Reticulocytosis):

• Matlab bone marrow zyada RBC bana raha hai.

• Common wajah:

  • Hemolytic anemia: RBC toot rahe hain, marrow compensate kar raha hai.

  • Acute blood loss: Khoon zyada gaya hai, marrow new RBC bana raha hai.

  • Anemia treatment ke baad recovery phase: Jaise iron ya vitamin B12 lene ke baad marrow active ho jata hai.

  • Erythropoietin therapy ya marrow stimulation.

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Reticulocyte Count Kam Hona:

• Bone marrow kam RBC bana raha hai.

• Common wajah:

  • Aplastic anemia: Bone marrow failure.

  • Bone marrow mein cancer ya fibrosis hone par.

  • Nutritional deficiency: Iron, vitamin B12 ya folate ki kami.

  • Chronic disease jo marrow suppress karta hai.