Clinical Utility of Reticulocyte Haemoglobin Content (Chr) as an Early Marker in the Diagnosis of Iron Deficiency Anaemia: A Case-Control Study.

Introduction: Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA) remains one of the leading causes of morbidity among women of reproductive age worldwide. Early identification of iron deficiency is vital for effective intervention. Conventional biomarkers such as serum ferritin and transferrin saturation are often influenced by inflammation and other systemic conditions, limiting their reliability. Reticulocyte Haemoglobin Content (CHr), which reflects immediate iron availability for erythropoiesis, has gained attention as a potential early diagnostic marker. This is an observational case-control study conducted from Janua Methodology: ry 2024 to July 2025 in Medical college associated hospital. A total of 200 adult female participants were enrolled, comprising 100 confirmed IDA cases and 100 agematched healthy controls. Blood samples were analyzed for CHr, CBC using Sysmex XN 1000 automated analyzers and serum ferritin was measured using Atellica CI 1900. Result: IDA cases have significantly lower Hb, CHr, and ferritin. CHr correlated strongly with Hb and ferritin. ROC analysis (AUC 0.92, sensitivity 91%, specificity 89%) confirmed CHr's excellent accuracy for early IDA detection. Descriptive and inferential statistics were computed using SPSS. CHr serves as a sensitive, early marker for IDA and Conclusion: has potential utility in routine screening protocols, especially in settings with limited resources