Reticulocyte Count

Hi all.
I am kinda lost with the shedule on whoose gona blog this week or what, so i'll just post something okay (: sorry to the one who ought to blog this week! HA.

Okay, i shall introduce Recticulocyte Count Test that is done in the Haematology Section;

1) Recticulocyte Count (RC) (in another words, rectic count)

Introduction: The recticulocyte count is used in the evaluation of anemia as it accurately reflects the amount of erythrocytes production taking place in the bone marrow.
Relationship btwn anaemic condition and erythrocyte production in bone marrow (in normal cases):
anaemic condition= increase in RBC production therefore increase of RC in blood
However, if the RC is not raised, it shows an indictation of impaired bone marrow function or lack of eythrocytes stimulus.

Principle: Recticulocytes are junvenile red cells. Thus they contain remnants of the ribosome and the ribonucleic acid, which are present in larger amt in the cytoplasm of the nucleated precursors from they are derived.
New Methylene Blue or Brilliant Cresyl Blue are supravital dyes that are used to measure reticulocytes.
Currently, there are 2 methods being employed:
a)Manual Method: The use of Brilliant Cresyl Blue
b) Automated method: Reticulocytes Package by Cell Dyn Ruby analyzer
We used the automated method cause its more efficient and contributes to a faster Turn Around Time (TAT).

Procedure of Automated Method

1) When using the retoculocyte reagent, verify the expiration date and store the stock reagent in the dark at room temperature
2) Label patient accession No. on to the tube of reticulocyte reagent
3) Verify that the whole blood specimen is warmed to room temperature and well mixed pior to
sampling
4) Pipette 20 uL of the blood sample into each labelled tube of reticulocyte reagent
5) Incubate the stained Reticulocyte specimens on a rotator or in a rack, after fully inverting the stained specimens 4-6 times. Inbubation must be performed according to the reagent package insert.

Note: The stained Reticulocyte specimens must incubate for at least 15mins but no more than 2 hours pior to processing on the Cell Ruby machine.

Although the process is time-efficient, there are some limitations of the procedure.

Okay im done with elaborating. Hm i shall list some definations of defined abnormalities (that we 'kinda' need to know and understand in the haema section)


Leukocytosis is an elevation of the white blood cell count (the leukocyte count) above the normal range. The normal adult human leukocyte count in peripheral blood is 4.4-10.8 x 109/L. A white blood count of 11.0 x 109/L or more suggests leukocytosis.
Leukocytosis is very common in acutely ill patients. It occurs in response to a wide variety of conditions, including viral, bacterial, fungal, or parasitic infection, cancer, hemorrhage, and exposure to certain medications or chemicals including steroids. Leukocytosis can also be the first indication of neoplastic growth of leukocytes.
For lung diseases like pneumonia,tuberculosis etc. WBC count are very inportant for the diagnosis of the disease that means leucocytosis can be seen in above mentioned diseases

Neutrophilia is a condition where a person has a high number of neutrophil granulocytes in their blood.
Neutrophils are the primary white blood cells that respond to a bacterial infection, so the most common cause of marked neutrophilia is a bacterial infection.
Neutrophils are also increased in any acute inflammation, so will be raised after a heart attack or other infarct.
As well as increasing in number, neutrophils show other changes in infection and inflammation.
A neutrophilia might also be the result of a malignancy. Chronic myelogenous leukemia(CML or chronic myeloid leukaemia) is a disease where the blood cells proliferate out of control. These cells may be neutrophils. Neutrophilia can also be caused by appendicitis.

Lymphopenia is the condition in which there exists an abnormally low number of lymphocytes in the blood.
Lymphopenia can be caused by various types of chemotherapy, such as with cytotoxic agents or immunosuppresive drugs. Some malignancies in the bone marrow will also cause lymphopenia.
A decreased number of lymphocytes (notably T cells) is present in those with AIDS. People exposed to large doses of radiation, such as those involved with Chernobyl can also exhibit a lymphopenia.
Lymphopenia may be present as part of a pancytopenia, when the total number of blood cells are reduced. This can occur in marrow failure.

Monocytosis is an increase in the number of circulating monocytes. In humans, 950/μL is regarded as at the upper limit of normal; monocyte counts above this level are regarded as monocytosis.
Monocytosis often occurs during chronic inflammation. Diseases that produce this state:
Infections: tuberculosis, brucellosis, listeriosis, subacute bacterial endocarditis, syphilis, infectious mononucleosis and other viral infections and many protozoal and rickettsial infections (e.g. kala azar, malaria, Rocky Mountain spotted fever).

Eosinophilia is the state of having a high concentration of eosinophils (eosinophil granulocytes) in the blood. The normal concentration is between 0 and 0.5 x 109 eosinophils per litre of blood. Eosinophilia can be reactive (roughly, allergic) or non reactive.
Diseases that feature eosinophilia: Hypereosinophilic syndrome, Parasitic infections, allergic disorders.
The release of interleukin 5 by T cells, mast cells and macrophages stimulates the production of eosinophils
Anemia is a deficiency of red blood cells (RBCs) and/or hemoglobin. This results in a reduced ability of blood to transfer oxygen to the tissues, causing tissue hypoxia.
The three main classes of anemia include excessive blood loss (acutely such as a hemorrhage or chronically through low-volume loss), excessive blood cell destruction (hemolysis) or deficient red blood cell production (ineffective hematopoiesis).

Basophilia is an uncommon cause of leukocytosis. Basophils are inflammatory mediators of substances such as histamine. These cells, along with similar tissue-based cells (mast cells), have receptors for IgE and participate in the degranulation of white blood cells that occurs during allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis
Causes; Infections: viral infections (varicella), chronic sinusitis Inflammatory conditions: inflammatory bowel disease, chronic airway inflammation, chronic dermatitis
Thrombocytosis is the presence of high platelet counts in the blood, and can be either reactive or primary (also termed essential and caused by a myeloproliferative disease).
High platelet counts can occur in patients with polycythemia vera (high red blood cell counts), and is an additional risk factor for complications.

p.s. the definations above are just F.Y.I okaaay.

See yall soooon! (:

Natalie
TG01