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Reticulocytes are an immature form of red blood cells.
Normally, there are very few reticulocytes in the blood. The normal
response to anemia or bleeding is increased production and release of
reticulocytes, as in:
- Iron-deficiency anemia, effectively treated with iron
- Pernicious anemia, effectively treated with B12.
- Several days after an acute hemorrhage
- Hemolytic anemias
The exception to this increase is when the bone marrow is unable to
increase production and release of reticulocytes, such as in:
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Aplastic anemia
- Pernicious anemia
- Bone marrow tumors
- Radiation therapy
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Normal Values*
| Men |
0.5-1.5% of RBCs |
| Women |
0.5-2.5% of RBCs |
| Children |
0.5-4.0% of RBCs |
*These are general values taken from a variety of
sources. The actual normal values may vary from lab to lab and from one
type of testing protocol to another.
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