Abstract
Summary
The osmotic fragility of blood can be numerically defined by measuring the change in osmolarity (Δ mOsm) required to hemolyze 50% of the erythrocyte population when hemolysis is proceeding at the highest rate. In normal blood Δ mOsm = 11.8 ± 1.1 mOsm. In all blood dyscrasias which were studied this osmotic fragility index was significantly different from normal. It was abnormal in the bearers of sickle cell or thalassemia trait. It was also abnormal in Hodgkin's disease and in cancer patients.
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