What is the significance of the following: neutrophil 78, hct 35.6, retic 2.5%?

Question

I've had no recent surgeries. Hemoglobin is 12.0

I'm a post-menopausal 63 year old.

Answer 1

Normal ranges of hemaglobin is based on your age. Assuning that you are an adult male -- a hemaglobin of 12 is low which indicates anemia( nl should be between 14-15). SO your MD ordered a reticulocyte count (retic) which are immature red blood cells count which igoes up in a process known as "hemolysis"(breaking down of red blood cells). A nl retic count is about 1%, but goes up when red cells are being broken down (such as from a large spleen or liver or from abnormal cells such as "sickle cell"). It may also go up when someone is recovering from anemia.
To help with the diagnosis- knowing the "mcv"- would be helpful.
(Its low in Iron deficiency).

Your neutrophil count of 78% tells the % of white cells that are "neutrophils"
(cells which help fight bacterial infection). If your White Blood count (WBC) is normal, I wouldn't worry about it.

So to contradict the other answer, you are anemic, but its not due to not enough iron in your diet (retic would be low, not high ).
It may be due to an abnormal hemaglobin in your system or an organ in your body (such as spleen, liver, blood vessels) breaking them down.

If your Dr. isn't helpful at clarifying the cause (repeat-- IT IS NOT due to lack of iron in your system), I would get a secong opinion from a Hematologist
(blood specialist)

Good Luck.

addendum:
Based on the fact that you are apost-menapausal women anemia is defined as <12 in your age group. So your right on the border.
Do you know the mcv? (anemia can be classified as "microcytic", "normocytic "or "macrocytic" based on the mcv.

I would still be concerned about your elevated retic. count.
I would probably order an iron level, hb electrophoresis (checking for Thalessemia) and repeat the hb in 0ne month. If your hemaglobin was stable or increasing and retic count was coming down, I wouldn't be concerned.
There is a process known as "anemia of chronic disease" so if your hb continues to be low, I would get a second opinion to rule out infections/inflamations/ cancer..etc.
Good luck

Answer 2

Without the rest of your Complete Blood Count (CBC) information, there's just not a whole lot to give you any valid information. I would like to correct something in a previous answer, hematocrit has nothing to do with hemoglobin, it is the percentage of red cells in the blood. The information here doesn't indicate anything worse than a possible mild anemia. Hemoglobin and Hematocrit are at the low end of normal, high end of abnormal low. The retic count is elevated, reticulocytes are immature red blood cells pumped out into circulation by the bone marrow due to a drop in red cells. This can result from anemia or major blood loss.
Neutrophils are the bodies first line of defense against bacterial infection, yours are absolutely normal.

Answer 3

Assuming your neutrophil count is a percentage % and not an absolute count, you cell count is within a normal range. Although your hemoglobin may be a little low if you are a male.
If you are a female, your hemoglobin can drop when you menstruate. hematocrit is a percentage of your hemoglobin value and a normal range is 3x your hemoglobin value.
Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell. A very low neutrophil count can be indicative of leukemia. A very high one can also indicate some blood cancers or an infection.
A reticulocyte is an immature red blood cells. High numbers of reticulocytes can indicate anemia, as can very low reticulocyte counts. You need the reference ranges for these tests from the laboratory to determine if you are in the normal ranges for these values.
Just looking at what you have presented, you are within normal range for everything but the very slightly low hemoglobin level.
Take more iron and eat better.

Answer 4

Significance Of Reticulocyte Count

Answer 5

You are not anemic but are low normal which is common for your age. Your retic count and Neutrophil count are fine as well.

Lowest non-anemic hemoglobin values:
Men - 14
Women - 12
Pregnancy - 10

The only other tests needed are yearly mammograms, and screening for colon cancer.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

i work in a hemotolgy lab, you wouldn't warrent a second look...which is good by the way...you are normal!

Answer 8

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