Reticulocytes

The absolute number of newly made red blood cells in your blood, showing how hard your bone marrow is working.

Last reviewedAugust 17, 2026

Whole blood

sample type

~3 mL

blood needed

~10 days

results in app

Any time of day

best timing

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Why test Reference ranges What you'll learn What affects it How testing works Sources FAQ

In short

Reticulocytes are red blood cells that have just left the bone marrow. They still carry traces of the machinery a cell uses while it matures, and they become ordinary red blood cells within a day or two.

Counting them gives a live read on red blood cell production. The absolute count is the number of these young cells per litre of blood, which is more reliable than the percentage when your total red cell count is unusual.

Blood Health (CBC & Iron)

Reviewed against DGKL reference practice.

Why test this?

The reticulocyte count answers a question a normal blood count cannot: if your red blood cells are low, is your bone marrow trying to fix it or not.

A high count means your marrow is producing hard, which fits blood loss, recovery from anaemia, or red cells being broken down early. A low count alongside anaemia points the other way, towards a marrow that cannot keep up, often because iron, vitamin B12 or folate is short.

What is a normal result?

Aniva reads your result against research-backed ranges, not just the lab's wide normal. The reference shown below is specific to this biomarker.

Adult reference values as used by Aniva. Ranges are guidance and can vary by laboratory and method, and reticulocyte intervals differ noticeably between analysers.

Group	Typical adult range
Adults	25 to 100 ×10⁹/L

Confirm the exact interval with the reporting laboratory. Your Aniva report reads your result against these values together with your age, sex and the rest of your panel.

Ranges are guidance and vary by lab and assay, aligned with DGKL practice. Always read your result against your own lab's reference interval.

What insights will this test give you?

Whether your bone marrow is producing red blood cells at a normal pace.
Whether an anaemia is a production problem or a loss problem, which changes what to do about it.
An early sign that iron, vitamin B12 or folate treatment is working, often within a week or two.

What can affect this result?

What can skew the result

The count rises for days to weeks after starting iron, vitamin B12 or folate, so timing shapes the result. Recent transfusion, active bleeding and some medicines shift it. Results also vary between analysers, so compare values from the same laboratory where you can.

Best interpreted with

Read together with haemoglobin, haematocrit, red blood cell count, MCV and ferritin, and alongside the reticulocyte percentage.

How is this tested?

Sample

Whole blood

Blood needed

~3 mL

Method

Flow cytometry

Best timing

Any time of day

Sources. The evidence behind this

LOINC 4679-7: Reticulocytes in blood

MedlinePlus: Reticulocyte Count

Common questions

What does my reticulocyte count mean? It shows how many young red blood cells your bone marrow is releasing. A high count means production is stepped up, a low count means it is not keeping pace.

Do I need to fast for this test? No. Eat and drink normally.

What can affect my result? Recent bleeding, a transfusion, altitude, pregnancy, and starting iron, vitamin B12 or folate can all raise the count. Some medicines and marrow conditions lower it.

How often should I test it? When anaemia is being worked up, and again about one to two weeks after starting treatment to check that your marrow is responding.

How long do results take? Results are usually ready in about 10 days.

What should I discuss with my clinician? Share any bleeding, recent illness, diet changes and supplements. Ask whether iron studies or vitamin B12 and folate belong alongside this result.

Which Aniva panels include this marker?

Core

Your annual full-body baseline with more than 100 biomarkers, included in your Aniva membership.