Osmotic Fragility Test

The Osmotic Fragility Test is a laboratory test used to measure the ability of red blood cells (RBCs) to withstand changes in their environment, such as changes in salt concentration or pressure. The test is performed by exposing RBCs to solutions of varying salt concentrations and observing how much the cells shrink or swell.

The test is commonly used to diagnose and monitor conditions that affect the RBCs, such as anemia, thalassemia, and sickle cell disease. It can also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of certain treatments, such as blood transfusions or iron supplementation.

During the test, a small amount of blood is drawn from the patient and mixed with solutions of varying salt concentrations. The mixtures are then incubated for a short period of time, and the degree of RBC shrinkage or swelling is observed under a microscope.

The degree of RBC fragility is reported as the percentage of cells that have ruptured or lyses in each solution. A higher percentage of RBC lysis indicates greater fragility, which can be indicative of certain conditions such as hereditary spherocytosis or paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria.

Interpretation of the test results should be done in consultation with a healthcare professional, as other factors such as age, medications, and medical history can also affect the test results. The Osmotic Fragility Test is a relatively simple and non-invasive test, but it may not be widely available at all laboratories.