Reticulocyte:
Chapter: 20a
A young (anucleate) red blood cell which contains RNA in the cytosol. The RNA can be visualized after precipitation with a supravital stain such as crystal violet when applied to unfixed RBCs. (Using the standard Wright-Giemsa stain on a peripheral blood smear, the reticulocyte will stain slightly bluish-gray, which is termed polychromasia.) The normal reticulocyte count in the peripheral blood is 1%. The reticulocyte count is a measure of effective erythropoiesis.