Reticulocyte Count 10 Field Estimate

Determine the patient’s reticulocyte count by counting the average number of reticulocytes in 10 oil immersion fields. Please click here if you would like to use our online counter instead.

Principle:

Microscopically counting the average number of reticulocytes seen in 10 oil immersion fields on a blood film stained with a supravital stain determines the patient’s reticulocyte count in percentage of RBC.

Notes:

• Reticulocytes must be counted in 10 different fields under 1000x magnification.
• Reticulocytes must be counted in the thin area of the blood smear. Fields must have good distribution of cells with little to no overlapping cells.
• Supravital staining technique must be used to display residual RNA found in reticulocytes.