Nondiscrete heterogeneity of human erythrocytes: Comparison of coulter‐principle flow cytometry and Soret‐hemoglobinometry image analysis

Abstract

In the blood of normal subjects, the volumes of single erythrocytes are distributed with a coefficient of variation (cv) of 10.8 ± 1.8%; while in hemoglobinopathies, cv increases proportionately to the degree of anemia produced. Using single cell Soret‐band hemoglobinometry and focused‐aperture impedance counting, we compared the distribution of red cell volume, area, hemoglobin content, and hemoglobin concentration in normals and subjects with anemic disorders. The cv, nondiscrete heterogeneity, is first, a general characteristic of biologic measurement, second, a sensitive indicator of abnormality of erythropoiesis, and third, consistently less for hemoglobin concentration than for volume, area, or hemoglobin content of the same cells.