Deb, we get our reports only in Retic %. I think Absolute count is more relevant than %, something like ANC is more relevant than Neut%.
Since I am trying to understand what this means for MDS, I found this formula for converting to Absolute Retic Count:
www.mdcalc.com/absolute-reticulocyte-count-index
Absolute Reticulocyte Count = # or % retics * (Pt's Hct / Normal Hct)
So for calculating %, it will be Retic % = Abs Retic *(Normal Hct)/Your Hct
Also, as per this link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reticulocyte_index
Raw Retic Count is misleading in anemic patients, and therefore a correction factor is to be applied as mentioned in the link.
Its all very confusing to me as of now, and other than the Retic %, all numbers for my mother show well below normal, i guess thats why she has MDS.