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Measurement of circulating red cell volume using biotin‐labeled red cells: validation against 51 Cr‐labeled red cells
Author(s) -
Mock Donald,
Lankford Gary L.,
Widness John A.,
Burmeister Leon F.,
Kahn Daniel,
Strauss Ronald G.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
transfusion
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.045
H-Index - 132
eISSN - 1537-2995
pISSN - 0041-1132
DOI - 10.1046/j.1537-2995.1999.39299154728.x
Subject(s) - biotinylation , red cell , flow cytometry , streptavidin , red blood cell , anemia , cytometry , red blood cell distribution width , chemistry , avidin , fluorescein , fetal hemoglobin , medicine , fetus , biotin , andrology , immunology , biology , biochemistry , pregnancy , physics , quantum mechanics , fluorescence , genetics
BACKGROUND: Anemia is a serious problem in the fetus and preterm infant. To investigate the physiology and pathophysiology of anemia and to assess responses to blood transfusions or erythropoietin therapy, measurement of circulating red cell volume would be useful. Because the standard 51 Cr method exposes the subject to radiation, a method of measuring circulating red cell volume without radiation exposure, sufficiently sensitive for use in fetuses and infants, was developed. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In 10 healthy adults whose body mass ranged from 56.8 to 115.9 kg, aliquots of autologous red cells were labeled with biotin or with 51 Cr, mixed, and transfused intravenously. Circulating red cell volume was measured in posttransfusion blood by quantitating the in vivo dilution of biotinylated red cells. Biotinylated red cells were detected by two methods: 1) 125 I‐streptavidin and 2) fluorescein‐labeled avidin with flow cytometry. RESULTS: Circulating red cell volume measured by 125 I‐ streptavidin detection agreed well with that measured by 51 Cr (slope = 1.07, y‐intercept = −97, correlation = 0.987). Similarly, circulating red cell volume measured by flow cytometry agreed well with that measured by 51 Cr (slope = 1.05, y‐intercept = −20, correlation = 0.987). CONCLUSIONS: Circulating red cell volume measured by the use of biotin with either 125 I‐streptavidin or flow cytometry agrees with that measured by 51 Cr. Each system provides a method of performing these studies without exposing the subject to radiation.