title: 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.
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003626:Data Display; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000145:classification* / Q000166:cytology; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006452:Hemoglobinometry / Q000295:instrumentation; D006453:Hemoglobinopathies / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood