Osmotic fragility of red blood cells – a review of diagnostic methods

Abstract

Osmotic Fragility Test (OFT) is widely considered as a sensitive indicator of red blood cells sensitivity to the hypotonic solution. Traditional osmotic fragility test (Dacie and Lewis) is time and work-consuming, and need relatively large minimum volume of peripheral blood for proper test performance. It does not belong to the most popular tests in a daily laboratory practice. The purpose of this article is to underline the diagnostic value of the Osmotic Fragility Test as well as present the latest methods that improves the traditional technique, such as Acidified Glycerol Lysis Test (AGLT 50), Pink Test, or Flow Cytometric Osmotic Fragility Test (FCM OF Test). Perhaps a new, fresh view at the issue in the nearest future will contribute to reconsider the osmotic fragility test for routine diagnostic screening of red blood cell disorders in children and adults.