Question

How are reticulocyte counts typically performed with the Miller disc method?

A) Reticulocytes are stained, and their percentage is manually counted under a microscope using a Miller disc.

B) A flow cytometer is used to automatically count reticulocytes based on their fluorescence properties.

C) Reticulocytes are lysed, and their hemoglobin content is measured using a spectrophotometer.

D) Reticulocytes are separated from whole blood using a centrifuge and then counted using a hemocytometer.

Answer 1

Reticulocyte counts with the Miller disc method involve manually counting stained reticulocytes under a microscope using an ocular counting grid known as a Miller disc. This method is used to assess the percentage of reticulocytes in a blood sample.

Step-by-step explanation:

Reticulocyte counts are typically performed using the Miller disc method by staining the reticulocytes and then manually counting their percentage under a microscope. To accurately answer the student's question, it's important to note that option A is correct; reticulocytes are stained, and their percentage is manually counted under a microscope using a Miller disc. This method is distinct from flow cytometry, which is an automated cell-counting system that detects fluorescing cells, and hematocrit tests, which separate blood components using a centrifuge.

During the Miller disc procedure, a small volume of blood is stained with a special dye that highlights reticulocytes. The blood smear is then placed under a microscope, and the person conducting the test uses a Miller disc, which is an ocular counting grid inserted into the eyepiece of the microscope, to assist in the manual counting of reticulocytes within a specific volume of blood.