[A study on reaction mechanism of sodium lauryl sulfate-hemoglobin (SLS-Hb), Part 1]

The cyanmethemoglobin (HiCN) method has been adopted as the international standard procedure for hemoglobin (Hb) determinations due to the accuracy and stability of result. However, the presence of potassium cyanide (KCN) and potassium ferricyanide (K3-Fe(CN)6) in the reagents has raised problems of laboratory and environmental pollution. In 1981, Oshiro and colleagues developed a cyanide free method of Hb determination that is based on a low toxicity compound Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS). The SLS-Hb method provides stable SLS-Hb formation through the following steps. 1) Reaction of SLS to erythrocytic membrane (disruption of the erythrocytic membrane). 2) Conformation change of Hb by SLS. 3) Iron oxidation by oxygen (Fe2+----Fe2+). 4) Formation of stable SLS-Hb (coordination of SLS). The paper presents several findings on the reaction mechanism of the SLS-Hb method.