Final answer:
Calculation of a reticulocyte count requires enumeration of the number of reticulocytes per 1000 RBCs on the reticulocyte smear. The correct answer is C.
Step-by-step explanation:
The calculation of a reticulocyte count in hematology requires the enumeration of the number of reticulocytes per number of red blood cells (RBCs) on a reticulocyte smear. The correct answer to the question regarding the number of RBCs that need to be counted is option c. 1000. The method involves scanning the entire smear under a microscope, systematically identifying and counting each reticulocyte until 1000 RBCs have been examined. This procedure helps to determine the percentage of reticulocytes in the blood, indicative of the bone marrow's erythropoietic activity. The count is performed in a similar way as leukocyte differential counts, where 100 leukocytes are typically counted and classified to determine the percentage of each leukocyte type. The correct answer is C.