Corrected Reticulocyte Count

[Pox in a box]

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Does anyone know if you need to know how to do a corrected reticulocyte count for Step 1?

 

[tkim]

Does anyone know if you need to know how to do a corrected reticulocyte count for Step 1?

Corrected Reticulocyte Count

The reticulocyte count must be corrected for the reduction in red cell count to accurately reflect marrow production of erythrocytes. The most accurate correction is to determine the absolute reticulocyte count, obtained by multiplying the red cell count by the recticulocyte percentage. The normal mean is 50,000 +/- 25,000/ml. Alternatively the raw reticulocyte percentage can be multiplied times the observed hematocrit or hemoglobin divided by the normal hematocrit or hemoglobin as shown:

Corrected Retic Count = Retic % X (Patient's HCT/Normal HCT)

The normal corrected reticulocyte percentage is 1 - 2%.

 

[mpp]

No.

 

[carrigallen]

It is easy to figure out without any math - just look and see if there is reticulocytosis in response to anemia.

 

[TommyGunn04]

I know Goljan talks about how important this is, but I think that may be his bias as a hematopathologist. It may be important in practice, but I'd be really surprised if you ever have to do such a calculation on Step 1. There may be a rare situation where you CAN opt to do it and it could yield some potentially helpful info, but I doubt it would ever be the turning point of any question. I don't know of anyone who's even had a retic count given in a Step 1 question, but I'll ask around a bit more now as I'm getting curious.