A mother brings her 3-year-old child for a well-child checkup. The nurse notices pallor and asks the mother about her child's recent behavior. The mother reports that the child has been rather tired lately and quite irritable. Testing reveals that the child's hemoglobin is 7 grams/dL (70 g/L). Which additional laboratory result(s) should the nurse report to the healthcare provider? Select all that apply.

Choice A reason: Leukocyte count is important for evaluating infection or immune status, but in the context of anemia, it is not the most relevant laboratory value to report. The primary concern here is the cause and severity of anemia, not white blood cell abnormalities. Choice B reason: Eosinophil count is useful for identifying allergic reactions or parasitic infections. However, eosinophils do not provide direct information about anemia or iron status. Reporting eosinophil levels would not help in determining the etiology of the child’s anemia. Choice C reason: Serum ferritin is a critical laboratory value because it reflects iron stores in the body. Low ferritin levels confirm iron deficiency anemia, which is the most common cause of anemia in children. Reporting this value helps guide treatment such as iron supplementation. Choice D reason: Reticulocyte count indicates bone marrow activity and the body’s response to anemia. A low reticulocyte count suggests inadequate bone marrow response, while a high count indicates active red blood cell production. This information is essential for determining whether the anemia is due to decreased production or increased destruction of red blood cells. Choice E reason: Red blood cell morphology provides insight into the type of anemia. For example, microcytic and hypochromic cells are characteristic of iron deficiency anemia. Abnormal morphology helps confirm the diagnosis and guides further management.