Hysteresis-Like Behavior of Oxygen Association-Dissociation Equilibrium Curves of Sickle Cells Determined by a New Method

Abstract

An instrument to determine the oxygen association-dissociation equilibrium of whole blood has been developed. Only one drop of blood sample is required to trace automatically the oxygen-red blood cell equilibrium curve in the direction of deoxygenation and reoxygenation within a total of less than 10 min. The whole blood is suspended in the form of a thin liquid film reenforced by a micromesh. The partial pressure of oxygen is changed continuously with a gas-mixing pump while simultaneously being recorded by polarographic oxygen electrodes. The spectral change of red blood cells is recorded by a dual-beam spec-trophotometer.