A simple and rapid test for the quantification of osmotic fragility of red blood cells

We have developed a simple and rapid nephelometric test for the quantification of the osmotic fragility of red blood cells. 10 microliters of whole blood are mixed with hypotonic NaCl solutions under mechanical stirring while the hemolysis curve is continuously recorded for 1 min. In our preliminary studies, this test was reproducible, time-saving, easy to set up and to standardize. No false-positive or false-negative results have been recorded so far. Moreover, it seems that this test can differentiate heterozygous beta-thalassemic patients from patients with sideropenic anemia, which was hardly possible with previously proposed assays.