OSMOTIC FRAGILITY TEST

Osmotic Fragility Test

Measure of the ability of red cells to take up fluid without lysing Employed to help diagnose different types of anemias Primary factor affecting osmotic fragility is the red blood cell shape The larger the amount of surface area (cell membrane) in relation to each the size of the cell the more fluid it can absorb before it will burst

Osmotic Fragility Indication

Target cells have increased surface area therefore decrease fragility Sperocytes have a smaller surface area therefore rupture most quickly, increased fragility Increased osmotic fragility pertains to decrease resistance is found in hemolytic anemias and hereditary spherocytosis

Osmotic Fragility Increased

Decreased osmotic fragility (increased resistance) occurs following splenectomy and in liver dse, sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, polycythemia vera Reticulocytes show decreased osmotic fragility Older cells are more fragile

Osmotic Fragility
Principle: - If red blood cells are placed in an isotonic solution (0.85% sodium chloride) fluid will neither enter nor leave the red blood cell. If red cells are placed in a hypotonic solution, however, fluid enters the red blood cell until the cell either ruptures or an equilibrium is reached. The whole blood is added to varying concentrations of buffered sodium chloride solution and allowed to incubate at room temp. the amount of hemolysis on each saline concentration is then determined by reading the supernatants on spectrophotometer. A normal control blood is run at the same time the patients blood is being tested

The fragility of the red cells increased as the the rate of hemolysis increases .