Flow cytometric evaluation of erythrocyte response to oxidant stress

Erythrocyte response to oxidant challenge has been used as an indicator of cell membrane tolerance to oxidant stress. This study describes a simple technique for evaluation of erythrocyte response to hydrogen peroxide oxidant stress using flow cytometry as an assay method. Challenged cells showed a detectable increase in fluorescence over the basal level. This increase in fluorescence was both concentration and time dependent. The test was standardized using 0.1 mM hydrogen peroxide and 2 h incubation. The standardized test showed a higher fluorescence of challenged umbilical cord erythrocytes compared to challenged adult red blood cells. We recommend further use of this test for examining other populations of red blood cells.