Sucrose Hemolysis Test

The sugar-water hemolysis is a blood test to detect fragile red blood cells. It is done by testing how well they swell in a low-salt solution. The test may be recommended when there are signs or symptoms of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria or hemolytic anemia. Hemolytic anemia is the condition where the RBCs die before their normal lifespan whereas in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria RBCs are likely to be harmed by the body’s “complement system”. The symptoms include pale skin, tiredness, weakness, dizziness etc. if left untreated it can cause thrombosis, chronic kidney disease, pulmonary hypertension, organ damage, anemia etc.

No special preparation is needed. It is however advisable to wear a T- shirt or short sleeved shirt to make things easier for the technician drawing blood. Any blood transfusion in past 3 months can affect the sugar hemolysis test therefore, information regarding the same should be given to the doctor.

Normal test results show that less than 5% of RBCs break down when tested. This breakdown is called hemolysis. A normal test does not rule out paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. Sometimes a false normal result may occur if the serum lacks complement or shows recent blood transfusions. Abnormal test results or positive result would mean that more than 10% of RBC’s break down thus indicating that the person has paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria.

for the blood test the procedure is- Firstly, the skin is cleaned with antiseptic and a tourniquet is placed around the upper arm to apply pressure and cause veins to swell with blood. A needle is inserted in the vein and blood is withdrawn and collected in a syringe. The blood the is saved in a vessel and sealed with your name. The sample is carried to the research laboratory for examination. Mostly, the ratio of old RBCs to new RBCs can tell if there is any imbalance or not. In rare cases bone marrow biopsy is also recommended. It includes taking out a sample and analyzing it for irregularities.