BRILLIANT CRESYL BLUE, 1 x 100 mL
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For in vitro diagnostic.
State | Liquid |
Storage temp. | +15 / +30 ºC |
Technique | Vital function |
PRINCIPLE
Reticulocytes are red blood cells which have not reached full maturity. They are anucleate cells which are the predecessors of red blood cells. The difference is that they have ribosomal granules, RNA and some mitochondria. These structures are present in the form of a network of filaments and granules which are stained in the blood smear, thereby distinguishing the reticulocytes from the mature red blood cells. Brilliant cresyl blue is basophilic and has affinity with the mitochondria and ribosomes, resulting in a blue precipitate in the shape of granules or filaments inside the red blood cells. The greater the degree of immaturity of the cell, the greater the precipitated material.
Reticulocytes have a half-life of two days in the bone marrow. They then pass into the circulation where they become mature red blood cells after a day. During this period, 20% of the haemoglobin contained in red blood cells is synthesised.
Counting reticulocytes makes it possible to evaluate the effective production of red blood cells by the bone marrow, and to discover its regenerative capacity. Reticulocyte counts which are greater than normal values indicate an increase in erythropoiesis. This is a situation which occurs as a response to haemorrhages, haemolytic anaemia and during the treatment of nutritional anaemia (iron-defi ciency anaemia and megaloblastic anaemia). Low reticulocyte counts suggest defective erythropoiesis, such as in cases of aplastic anaemia, aplastic crisis of haemolytic anaemia and in infiltration of the bone marrow by tumour cells.