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Mariam Swidan: Some Red Blood Cells Can’t Handle Pressure
Mariam Swidan/LinkedIn
Jun 10, 2026, 17:51

Mariam Swidan: Some Red Blood Cells Can’t Handle Pressure

Mariam Swidan, Biomedical Science Graduate, Clinical Laboratory Professional, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Clinical Lab Concepts 10- Osmotic Fragility

Some RBCs can’t handle pressure. We can prove it.

Osmotic fragility measures how susceptible red blood cells are to hemolysis when placed in hypotonic solutions.

Principle

RBCs are added to a series of saline solutions with decreasing concentrations. As the solution becomes more hypotonic, water enters the cells, then RBCs swell and rupture (hemolysis).

Normal RBCs:

  • Biconcave shape enhances flexibility
  • Swell gradually
  • Lyse later

Spherocytes:

  • Decreased Surface area-to-volume ratio
  • Reduced Membrane flexibility
  • Rupture much earlier

Earlier hemolysis causes a leftward shift in the curve.

The concentration at which hemolysis begins and completes reflects membrane integrity.

Clinical Relevance

  • Increased osmotic fragility: Hereditary spherocytosis, AIHA
  • Decreased fragility: Thalassemia, target cells

Limitations

Should be interpreted alongside peripheral smear and other hemolysis markers.

Takeaway

Osmotic fragility reflects RBC membrane stability and surface area relationships; A key in identifying spherocytic disorders

Same RBCs. Different shapes. Completely different survival. ”

Mariam Swidan: Some Red Blood Cells Can’t Handle Pressure

Find more posts featuring Mariam Swidan on Hemostasis Today.

AIHA Blood Health Hematology hemolysis Hemostasis Hemostasis News Hemostasis Today Hereditary spherocytosis Mariam Swidan Medicine Osmotic Fragility RBC Target cells Thalassemia
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