Hemolysis (Taking)

Hemolysis (Taking): what is it and why is it needed?

Hemolysis (Taking) is the process of destruction of red blood cells, which can be caused by physical or chemical influences on the blood. Hemolysis is an important step in the process of determining hemoglobin levels and identifying the various enzymes present in red blood cells. Let's figure out why hemolysis is needed and how it happens.

When performing blood tests, including hemoglobin testing, the blood is first collected in a test tube and placed in a centrifuge. Centrifugation causes the blood to separate into three layers: plasma, white blood cells and red blood cells. In order to determine the level of hemoglobin, it is necessary to isolate red blood cells from the total blood mass.

However, red blood cells have a dense membrane that protects their contents from the environment, including reagents used in the laboratory. To destroy the membrane and release the contents, hemolysis is necessary.

Hemolysis can be caused by physical or chemical influences. Physical methods of hemolysis include vigorous shaking of the tube or passing blood through a narrow channel. Chemical methods of hemolysis are based on the use of reagents that destroy the membrane of red blood cells.

The result of hemolysis is the creation of a homogeneous solution that contains hemoglobin and other components of red blood cells. This solution can be used for further analysis.

Hemolysis can also be used to identify various enzymes present in red blood cells. Enzymes can be isolated from a homogeneous solution obtained after hemolysis and used to diagnose various diseases.

In conclusion, hemolysis is an important preparatory step in the process of testing blood for hemoglobin content and identifying various enzymes. This process produces a homogeneous solution that can be used for further analysis and diagnosis of diseases.



Hemolysis is the process of destruction of red blood cells. It can be caused by various factors, such as mechanical stress, chemical reagents, ultraviolet radiation and others. Hemolysis is important in medicine because it is used to determine the amount of hemoglobin in the blood and identify various enzymes in red blood cells that may indicate the presence of certain diseases.

Hemolysis can be physical or chemical. Physical hemolysis occurs when the blood is subjected to mechanical force, such as centrifugation or filtration. Chemical hemolysis occurs when the blood is exposed to chemicals such as sodium hypochlorite or hydrogen peroxide.

Mechanical hemolysis is commonly used to separate blood into plasma and blood cells. Plasma contains proteins and other components of blood, and blood cells contain red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Mechanical hemolysis can also be used to isolate certain blood components such as hemoglobin or enzymes.

Chemical hemolysis is used to break down red blood cells and produce a homogeneous solution that can be used for blood testing. It can also be used to cleanse the blood of impurities such as lipids or proteins.

However, hemolysis can have negative consequences, such as the formation of free radicals, which can damage blood cells and cause various diseases. Therefore, when carrying out hemolysis, it is necessary to observe certain precautions and use special reagents and equipment.



Hemolytic methods are chemical or physical methods used to disrupt the integrity of red blood cells (RBCs) to produce a homogenized fluid containing hemoglobin molecules (from the hemolysate). Hemolytic assay methods (eg, the VERACAP test) use hydrolytic lysis (eg, with hydrochloric acid) to destroy the membranes of red blood cells. Such aggressive destruction of the membrane is accompanied by the release of intracellular contents - hemoglobin. Hemolysis is the formation of smaller particles from individual blood elements. The destruction of peripheral blood cells is carried out by chemically active agents - hemolytics. They cause the cell membrane to rupture. Decomposition products are used after they have been neutralized or rendered harmless.

The causes of hemolysis are injuries - mechanical damage to blood vessels; under the influence of arterial hypertension, the vascular walls are damaged, especially in the area of ​​the elbow bends. This happens especially often in older age, when the peripheral vessels are narrowed or sclerotic. In case of injury, phagocytosis of erythrocytes by leukocytes is accelerated; with excessive insolation, often in the area of ​​redness of the skin from direct exposure to sunlight. Exposure to radiation, vibration, intoxication (alcohol, etc.) can also lead to hemolysis. However, more often hemolysis develops against the background of normal blood composition as a result of enzymatic damage to the internal structures of red blood cell membranes by oxygen. This protective reaction of the body is aimed at preventing tissue hypoxia and maintaining the volume of circulating blood; however, activation of free radical reactions in combination with impaired permeability of erythrocyte membranes, as well as a decrease in their resistance to oxidation (an indicator of osmotic resistance), can cause the development of hemolysis. In the pathogenesis of hemolytic anemia, hereditary inferiority (defect) of the erythrocyte membrane or deficiency of enzymes of the glucose-6-phosphate and pyruvate shunts of hemoglobin metabolism is important, which leads to the accumulation of intermediate products of bilirubin metabolism, disruption of its metabolism, and excretion of bilirubin in the urine and feces. Such disorders of the hemostatic system also develop when incompatible blood is transfused. In addition, clinically significant hemolysis is often observed in newborns with plasma protein deficiency, cystic fibrosis, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, congenital thrombi in the microvasculature, glucose-2-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and the development of hemolytic anemia