Reticulocytes

Question 1

define reticulocyte

Answer 1

• a non-nucleated erythrocyte that, when stained with NMB, presents an irregular network (reticulum) or clumps of dark-staining material
• was recently released from the bone marrow
• it just lost its nucleus

Question 2

what is the reticulum in the reticulocytes?

Answer 2

remnants of ribosomal RNA and other organelles

Question 3

what stain type is used to see reticulocytes?

Answer 3

Romanowsky-type stains
(NMB)

Question 4

what type of RBC abnormality is a reticulocyte

Answer 4

polychromatophil

Question 5

what often causes missed polychromatophils? (2)

Answer 5

• staining technique
• visual subjectivity

Question 6

what is the only accurate way of assessing anemia?

Answer 6

a reticulocyte count

Question 7

what is a reticulocyte count?

Answer 7

an expression of the percentage of RBCs that are reticulocytes

Question 8

what test should be done on the blood of all anemic patients?

Answer 8

a reticulocyte count
(except horses)

Question 9

what animal does not release reticulocytes?

Answer 9

horses

Question 10

what prognostic sign is the presence of increased reticulocytes in circulating blood considered?

Answer 10

positive because it’s a sign of RBC regeneration

Question 11

Regenerative / responsive anemia

Answer 11

the number of reticulocytes in ABOVE the normal range

Question 12

non-regenerative anemia

Answer 12

the number of reticulocytes is BELOW the normal range

Question 13

increased reticulocytes indicate RBCs are

Answer 13

being pushed out of the bone marrow

Question 14

what effect do reticulocytes have on your MCV?

Answer 14

increases it

Question 15

what effect do increased reticulocytes have on MCHC

Answer 15

decreases it

Question 16

what species has more reticulocytes?

Answer 16

cats

Question 17

why do cats have more reticulocytes?

Answer 17

because reticulocyte maturation is slower in cats
(aggregate are young, punctate are old)

Question 18

what are the 2 types of reticulocyte classifications for cats?

Answer 18

1. aggregate (clumped)
2. punctate (2-8 isolated granules)

Question 19

what type of reticulocyte does not stain with Romanowsky-type staining?

Answer 19

punctate reticulocytes

Question 20

in cats, aggregate reticulocytes mature to become what?

Answer 20

punctate reticulocytes

Question 21

how long does it take the aggregate reticulocyte to become a punctate reticulocyte in a cat?

Answer 21

12-24h

Question 22

how long can punctate reticulocytes remain in circulation before becoming a mature RBC in cats

Answer 22

21 days

Question 23

why don’t punctate reticulocytes matter diagnostically?

Answer 23

because they are long-lived

Question 24

a meaningful reticulocyte count for a cat counts what reticulocytes?

Answer 24

aggregate reticulocytes only

Question 25

how long are reticulocytes present for in dog blood before maturing?

Answer 25

1 day

Question 26

what is the most accurate way to record reticulocytes?

Answer 26

#reticulocytes/ microliter (%reticulocyte x RBC count)

Question 27

what is an extreme reticulocyte?

Answer 27

HJB

Question 28

What will we see if there is an RBC response in the first 24-48 hours after blood loss?

Answer 28

reticulocytes

Question 29

why do we count 1000 reticulocytes?

Answer 29

accuracy

Question 30

what is the normal PCV for a cat?

Answer 30

35%

Question 31

what is the normal PCV for dogs?

Answer 31

45%

Question 32

what does the absolute reticulocyte count tell us?

Answer 32

how many reticulocytes total are present