Nucleated Red Blood Cells
Discover Nucleated Red Blood Cells for hematologic stress evaluation. Track bone marrow response to illness or treatment.
What is Nucleated Red Blood Cells?
Nucleated Red Blood Cells (NRBC) measures the absolute count of immature red blood cells that still contain a nucleus. These cells should normally complete maturation in bone marrow and lose their nucleus before entering circulation. Their presence in peripheral blood indicates significant stress on the blood-forming system.
Why is it Tested?
Doctors order nucleated RBC counts to evaluate severe anemia, assess bone marrow function, investigate blood disorders, and monitor critically ill patients. The presence of these immature cells helps identify serious underlying conditions requiring immediate attention and specialized treatment.
Normal Ranges
Reference ranges vary by lab and methodology. Generally:
- Adults: 0 × 10³/µL (typically undetectable)
Healthy adults should have no detectable nucleated red blood cells in circulation, as normal red cells complete maturation in bone marrow before release.
Reference ranges vary by authority. Track yours across multiple standards with automatic unit conversions in LabsVault.
What do Abnormal Results Mean?
Abnormal results are not a diagnosis. Always discuss your results with a qualified healthcare provider before making any medical decisions.
Normal Nucleated RBC
Undetectable counts indicate:
- Normal bone marrow function
- Proper erythropoiesis (red cell production)
- No significant stress on blood-forming organs
High Nucleated RBC
Any detectable nucleated RBCs require immediate evaluation and may indicate:
- Severe hemolytic or megaloblastic anemia
- Bone marrow infiltration (cancer, fibrosis)
- Acute blood loss with rapid replacement
- Severe hypoxia or respiratory failure
- Erythroleukemia or other blood cancers
- Post-splenectomy state
- Extramedullary hematopoiesis
How to Track Over Time
Nucleated RBC counts demand urgent medical evaluation when detected, as they often indicate serious underlying conditions. Serial monitoring helps assess disease progression and treatment response in severe anemias, bone marrow disorders, or critical illness requiring specialized hematologic management.
Track your Nucleated Red Blood Cells results over time
Upload your lab PDFs and see trends automatically.