Background: Reticulated platelets (RP) are the youngest platelet forms in peripheral blood. With their diagnostic utility gradually increasing the aim of our study was to establish normal haematological values for RP in healthy individuals and to check their stability over time. Additionaly, the aim was to verify, if the RP number had to be determined from fresh blood or the evaluation could be performed on stored blood samples.
Material and methods: Blood samples were freshly collected on EDTA anticoagulant from 148 healthy individuals. To determine the percentage/absolute RP values we used immunofluorescent double labelling with monoclonal antibody anti-CD41-phycoerythrin and thiazole orange. The RP level were analysed using flow cytometry.
Results: The haematological normal value is — 1.3 ± 0.8%, 3.29 ± 2.02 × 10³/μl (absolute value); range — 0.5–6%, 1.26–15.2 x 10³/μl (absolute number). For RP labelling it is recommended to use freshly collected blood samples. Reticulated platelets level in healthy individuals was stable and did not change significantly with time.
Conclusions: The hematological norms of RP established during our study are similar to the norms reported in literature.
J. Transf. Med. 2011; 4: 123–128