Osmotic Fragility and Blood Cell Analysis

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to osmotic fragility testing and blood cell analysis.

Osmotic fragility test

A test measuring the resistance of erythrocytes to hemolysis under osmotic stress.

Hypotonic saline solution

A solution with a lower concentration of solute than the cytoplasm of cells, leading to swelling of cells.

Hypertonic saline solution

A solution with a higher concentration of solute than the cytoplasm of cells, causing cells to shrink.

Isotonic solution

A solution with the same concentration of solute as the cytoplasm of cells, causing no net movement of water.

Crenation

The process by which red blood cells shrink in a hypertonic solution.

Endosmosis

The movement of water into the cells, causing them to swell in hypotonic solutions.

Exosmosis

The movement of water out of the cells, causing them to shrink in hypertonic solutions.

Erythrocytes

Red blood cells responsible for oxygen transport.

Hemolysis

The rupture or destruction of red blood cells.

Spectrophotometer

An instrument used to measure the absorbance of light by a sample to determine concentration.

Micropipette

A laboratory instrument used to measure and transfer small volumes of liquid.

Normal saline

A saline solution that is isotonic with human blood, typically 0.9% NaCl.

Osmotic fragility curve

A graph that shows the relationship between saline concentration and the degree of hemolysis.

Thalassemia

A genetic blood disorder that affects hemoglobin production, leading to anemia.

Sickle cell disease

A genetic disorder resulting in abnormal hemoglobin, causing red blood cells to become sickle-shaped.

Reticulocyte

An immature red blood cell in the process of developing into a mature erythrocyte.

Bone marrow

The soft tissue found within bones where blood cells are produced.

Differential white blood cell count

A test that measures the percentage of each type of white blood cell in the blood.

Anemia

A condition characterized by a deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood.