A formulation designed to selectively disrupt red blood cells is commonly used in biological and biochemical procedures. This type of solution contains components that create an osmotic imbalance, causing erythrocytes to swell and subsequently lyse, while leaving other cell types relatively intact. A typical preparation often includes ammonium chloride (NHCl), potassium bicarbonate (KHCO), and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), dissolved in distilled water and adjusted to a specific pH.
The utilization of such a solution streamlines cell isolation protocols, particularly when separating leukocytes or other nucleated cells from whole blood. By eliminating the red blood cell population, downstream analyses such as flow cytometry, DNA extraction, and cell culture are simplified and made more efficient. Historically, this method has been crucial in immunology and hematology research, reducing interference from red blood cell components and enabling more accurate data collection and analysis. The ability to selectively remove erythrocytes contributes significantly to the accuracy and efficiency of various experimental procedures.
