[Osmotic fragility test of erythrocytes with a coil planet centrifuge].

The measurement of osmotic fragility of erythrocytes has been applied to the diagnosis of hemolytic diseases, studies of membrane permeability and alternations leading to destruction of erythrocytes. Almost 30 years have gone by since the coil planet centrifuge system was devised for measuring the osmotic fragility of erythrocytes. Many excellent studies by means of this centrifuge system have been published. Prominent investigations are reviewed as follows: in relation to the osmotic fragility, various liver diseases, angina pectoris, trapping the aged erythrocytes, tumor, lactic acid, unsaturated fatty acids, free cholesterol, exercise and lead exposure level were examined.