Expansibility of erythrocytes during the course of hypotonic hemolysis

New compact-type latex photometric immunoassay system for hemoglobin and three acute inflammation markers: neutrophil count, C-reactive protein, and anti-streptolysin O

A new compact-type latex photometric immunoassay system, SPOTCHEM IM SI-3510 (ARKRAY, Inc., Kyoto, Japan), which assays three kinds of inflammatory markers-neutrophil count (NPC), C-reactive protein (CRP), and anti-streptolysin O (ASO)-was evaluated. Hemoglobin (Hb), which is a good marker for anemia, can also be measured with it. NPC and CRP are measured using antibodies against neutrophilic elastase and CRP, purified streptolysin O was used for ASO determination, and Hb was measured by an azide-methemoglobin method. Whole blood, serum, and plasma specimens can be used as samples with this system. In this study, whole blood treated with dipotassium ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid was used for evaluation. Linearity and reproducibility were good for all of the items studied. Good correlations were observed between the results obtained by this system and those obtained by routine methods. Since NPC exhibited a high correlation with the routine white blood cell (WBC) counts, it was judged to be useful as a substitute for WBC counting. Since this system is small and easy to operate, and evaluation revealed reliable results, it was judged to be practical for small laboratories, and satellite testing in hospitals and physicians' office laboratories for patients suspected to have acute inflammation.

Normal and homogeneous red blood cell populations over a wide range of hyper-iso-hypotonic media. III. Corrected volumes in Coulter Counter measurements

The volumes of human erythrocytes after rapid and gradual swelling in hypotonic NaCl media were measured using a Coulter Counter ZB at temperatures of +4 degrees C and +20 degrees C together with potassium leakage, the degree of hemolysis and the 'returning volume', i.e., the volume in an isotonic solution to which the cells will return from that in a hypotonic solution. The methodological and systematic errors in the volume measurements were corrected by taking into account the shape dependence of the Coulter Counter and the change in cell population during hemolysis, whereafter the measured cell volume values and the comparison between them become more reliable. The curves for cell volume as an inverse function of osmotic pressure appeared to be non-linear. The slopes were small at first but showed a rapid increase as the cells approached their maximal volume. The critical hemolytic volume was approx. 8% higher at +20 degrees C after both rapid and gradual swelling than at +4 degrees C and approx. 4% higher after a gradual swelling as compared with a rapid swelling both at +4 degrees C and +20 degrees C. A decrease in temperature resulted in an increase in the critical osmotic pressure both in rapid and gradual hemolysis, but did not greatly affect the amount of prelytic K+ leakage. The critical osmotic pressure was smaller in gradual hemolysis than in rapid hemolysis and the prelytic K+ leakage was doubled at both +4 degrees C and +20 degrees C. The shifts in osmotic fragility as a function of temperature may be due to differences in the visco-elastic properties of the cell membrane, but the shifts in osmotic fragility as a function of swelling rate may be connected with differences in potassium leakage and membrane stretch.

Changes of platelet cell volumes in hypotonic solution

Changes of platelet cell volumes in hypotonic solution were studied by the use of a new apparatus for cell volume analysis. Continuous mean cell volume analyzer (CMA) is a computerized instrument which continuously counts the mean cell volume and records the results. Moreover, it also shows patterns of expansion or shrinkage. Adequate amounts of platelet rich plasma were added into 0.8 or 0.4% of NaCl solution containing 5mM phosphate buffer. The mean platelet volumes were measured continuously every 2 seconds for 200 seconds. In isotonic solution, platelets changed their volumes little, but in hypotonic solution, the volumes increased for about 20 seconds and then, decreased gradually. Platelet volume expansion ratio and shrinkage ratio were calculated from these patterns. The shrinkage ratio well corresponded to the values of hypotonic shock response measured by spectrophotometry (r = 0.861). Expansion and especially shrinkage ratios decreased during storage, and they were dependent on stored temperature and pH.