Method and apparatus for determination of hemoglobin content of individual red blood cells

摘要

This invention is related to an apparatus and method to determine the hemoglobin concentration of individual red blood cells by measuring the radio frequency resistance (RF) and direct current (DC) resistance resulting during the flow of the cells through a measurement aperture. The hemoglobin concentration of the cell is determined using the ratio of these two resistances. This determination can be made using a focused flow cell and a non-focused flow cell. In addition, the determination can be made with red blood cells which are either in their native, deformable state or with red blood cells that have been isovolumetrically sphered.