Osmotic Fragility Blood Test - Osmotic Fragility Test

The osmotic fragility test is a laboratory test that measures the susceptibility of red blood cells to lysis (hemolysis) when exposed to decreasing concentrations of sodium chloride solution (saline solution). Increased fragility (hemolysis at higher salt concentrations) reflects the presence of spherical or small, fragile red blood cells, as in favism (hereditary spherocytosis). Conversely, decreased fragility suggests flat or sickle-shaped red blood cells.