Background: Iron Deficiency (ID) is still a major health problems in Indonesia. Despite iron supplementation, some term infants develop ID. The optimal iron status parameter with reticulocyte haemoglobin content (Ret-He) for early detection of ID has yet to be determined.

Objective: To establish reference ranges for reticulocyte haemoglobin content (Ret-He) in term infants. 

Methods: The study design was a prospective cohort and had conducted in Kotamadya Banjarbaru South Kalimantan, during the period of 9 months from April 2018 up to December 2018. There were 277 term babies (clinically well baby with birth weight ?2500 gram) included in this study, consisted of 132 female babies and 145 male babies.   Analysis of Ret-He and complete blood count in infants, blood sample obtained within 48 hour after birth. Results: Mean (SD) of Ret-He, Hb, MCV, MCH were 35.17 (2.84); 15.87 (6.34); 103.90 (52.04); 36.36 (18.18) respectively.  The 2.5th; 3.0th;5.0th;10.0th percentile of Ret-He, Hb, MCV, MCH were 29.06 pg, 29.24 pg, 30.00 pg, 30.50 pg; 11.89 g/dl, 11.93 g/dl, 12.29 g/dl, 13.08 g/dl; 91.65 fl, 92.47 fl, 93.29 fl, 95.58 fl; 31.58 pg, 32.04 pg, 32.59 pg, 35.50 pg respectively.

Conclusion: The 2.5th (29.06 pg); 3.0th (29.24 pg); 5.0th (30.00 pg) percentile of Ret-He can be set for the lower limit of the normal reference range of Ret-He in term newborns within 48 hour after birth.