Reticulocyte Count Test - Price, Purpose, Procedure, Results

Table of Content

• Test Detail
• Need
• Purpose
• Preparation
• Procedure
• Result
• Cost

Introduction to Reticulocyte Count Test

A reticulocyte count test measures your bone marrow's immature red blood cells (RBC), or reticulocytes. The human body makes these reticulocytes in your bone marrow and sends them into your bloodstream. A healthcare provider or doctor asks you to perform the reticulocyte count test to check if your bone marrow is healthy and has the right amount of red blood cells. If you have too few reticulocytes, your tissues may not get enough oxygen. However, if you have too many, there is a probability that you could be at risk of blood clots or other health concerns. Having reticulocytes more or less indicates a serious health issue, including anemia when red blood cells are destroyed earlier than normal (hemolytic anemia). It can leave you feeling weak and tired, short of breath, or having headaches and chest pain—other conditions such as bone marrow failure, liver disease, and chronic kidney disease. The reticulocyte test is one of the ways to diagnose and monitor conditions that affect your red blood cells. 

If your doctor has suggested the test, Redcliffe Labs is the best omnichannel pan-India diagnostic service provider, from which you can book a reticulocyte count test with 100% convenience. Our highly trained and well-qualified team includes professional phlebotomists who visit your home to collect your blood sample. So, why wait? Book a Reticulocyte Count Test with Healthy India Ki Trusted Lab, Redcliffe Labs. 

Test Details

When do I need a reticulocyte count test?

A doctor may ask you for a reticulocyte count test to check:

• Anemia: The test will help diagnose the cause of anemia. When you suffer from anemia, your body does not have enough red blood cells or produces lower-than-normal amounts of healthy red blood cells. 
• Bone Marrow Conditions: Your healthcare provider may order the test to check if your bone marrow produces sufficient red blood cells. In the human body, the bone marrow constantly creates new blood cells as you need them. If there are too few, your tissues will not get the right amount of oxygen. 
• Bone Marrow Transplant: Doctors may prescribe this test to check if you have had a bone marrow transplant or chemotherapy for a blood disorder.

Besides these conditions, there are other scenarios in which a doctor may suggest the test, such as 

• Other tests, such as a complete blood count (CBC), hemoglobin test, or hematocrit test, show that your red blood cells are abnormal. 
• Sometimes, newborn babies may have a reticulocyte test to check if they have a blood disorder called hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN). This condition may arise when your blood does not match the blood type of your unborn baby. This is called Rh incompatibility. 

Irrespective of the reason, if your healthcare provider has suggested a reticulocyte count test based on the following symptoms, it is vital to get tested in time to evaluate your red blood cell conditions and take appropriate measures accordingly.

What is the purpose of the reticulocyte count test?

The reticulocyte count test helps determine the number or percentage of reticulocytes in the blood. This information is used to evaluate conditions that affect RBCs, such as anemia or bone marrow disorders. 

The main purpose of the reticulocyte count test includes:

• Follow-up Abnormal Blood Test Results: Determines the cause of the abnormal results shown by various blood tests such as CBC, RBC count, hemoglobin, or hematocrit. 
• Bone-Marrow Functioning: The retic count also determines whether the bone marrow is functioning properly and responding adequately to the body’s need for RBCs. 
• Anemia Diagnosis: The reticulocyte count test is also done to detect and distinguish different types of anemia. These include aplastic anemia, hemolytic anemia, iron-deficiency anemia, and pernicious anemia. 
• Sickle Cell Disease: The test is also useful for people with sickle cell disease. This is a health disorder in which the body produces crescent, or sickle-like, red blood cells instead of round ones. 
• Checks the functioning of bone marrow after chemotherapy: This test will help check if your bone marrow functions properly if you have recently received a bone marrow transplant or chemotherapy. 

What preparations are required for the reticulocyte count test?

No special preparations are required for the test. However, certain guidelines should be followed for accurate test results. 

• There is no need to fast beforehand, as fasting does not influence test results. 
• Your doctor may ask you to avoid blood thinners beforehand. 
• You should inform your doctor in advance if you are already on some medications, including prescriptions or over-the-counter drugs. He may ask you to stop taking them not to influence the test results.

Please feel free to ask any questions or doubts regarding the test preparations with your healthcare provider to ensure the measurements are appropriately taken, and the test results are accurate. 

What is the procedure for a reticulocyte count test?

The reticulocyte count test procedure is small and simple. It includes the following steps: 

• A phlebotomist will come and take your blood sample. He may tie a band around your arm and insert a sterile needle into one of the veins in your arm to withdraw a vial of blood. This process involves minimal pain. 
• Before inserting the needle into your vein, the phlebotomists clean the site with a disinfectant to prevent infection. 
• Once the blood is taken, the syringe is removed, followed by a bandage applied to the site to prevent excessive bleeding or minimize the infection. 
• The collected blood will be taken to the laboratory for analysis. 

In earlier years, the reticulocyte count test procedure involved doctors putting a drop of blood on a microscopic slide to count the number of reticulocytes. Nowadays, machines calculate the results of almost all reticulocyte count tests. The procedure is very simple and has no associated risks. The pain and the bruise on the puncture site will disappear after a few days. 

If the symptoms continue to exist, seek medical attention immediately. 

What does the reticulocyte result mean?

A reticulocyte count is a percentage of the total RBC in your body sample. The normal reticulocyte count range in adults is between 0.5% and 2.5% in adults and 2% and 6% in infants. 

In the case of a lower-than-normal reticulocyte count, you may have the following: 

• Iron deficiency anemia is very common and happens when you do not have enough iron in your body. 
• Pernicious anemia, also known as megaloblastic anemia, occurs when the body does not get enough of certain B vitamins (B12 and folate) in the diet. 
• Aplastic anemia is a rare type of anemia that occurs when the bone marrow cannot make enough blood cells. 
• Bone Marrow Failure: It is caused by infection or cancer. 
• Chronic Kidney Disease: The kidneys may not produce enough stimulating hormone (erythropoietin) to keep up with the body’s red blood cell needs, leading to kidney disease. 
• Liver Cirrhosis: An erythropoietin-like substance (ELS) is a protein that the liver produces, stimulating the production of red blood cells. If the liver is damaged, it won’t make enough of this protein, resulting in a low reticulocyte count. 

In the case of a higher-than-normal reticulocyte count (reticulocytosis), it may mean: 

• Hemolytic Anemia: The red blood cells are destroyed faster than the bone marrow can replace them in this condition. 
• New or Ongoing Bleeding (Hemorrhage): Your body is making many more red blood cells to replace what you have lost. 
• Hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) restricts a baby's blood's ability to carry oxygen to organs and tissues. 

Contact your healthcare provider to know what your test results mean. 

Book a Reticulocyte Count Test at an Affordable Reticulocyte Count Cost! 

When it is a matter of your health, a delay should never be made to protect your body from harmful repercussions. Hence, if your doctor has suggested a reticulocyte count test, delay no more and book now with Redcliffe Labs. You can get tested with us at a reasonable reticulocyte count test price of INR 299. You can avail of our doorstep sample collection service. Book a slot to get your blood sample picked up within 45 minutes and accurate test results within a given time frame. So, why wait anymore? Book a reticulocyte test now! 

Reticulocyte Count Test Cost in Different Cities - Redcliffe Labs

Note: We also offer Reticulocyte Count Test PAN India. Please call the number 8988988787 to check the availability of our services in your area.