Impedance Signals Reveal Red Blood Cell Deformability: Comparison with Ektacytometry
Abstract
Standard methods for measuring red blood cell (RBC) deformability, such as ektacytometry, are rarely available in routine clinical practice. We analyzed near wall impedance pulses generated by RBCs in a Coulter system without hydrodynamic focusing, designed for Complete Blood Count (CBC). The relative amplitude of the rotation associated peak (F) was computed, and its interquartile range (ΔQ_F) was proposed as a global deformability marker. Comparisons with ektacytometry were performed under controlled modulation of RBC deformability (glutaraldehyde, NS309) and in patient samples (15 transfused patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), 26 non-transfused SCD patients (22 HbSS and 4 HbSC), 20 diabetes patients, 7 individuals with secondary polycythemia, 4 with hereditary spherocytosis and 24 healthy subjects). A digital twin of the Coulter counter was used to support the analysis. ΔQ_F increased dose-dependently with glutaraldehyde and NS309 treatment and the values correlated with RBC deformability determined by ektacytometry (|r|>0.95, p<0.001). ΔQ_F was significantly higher in HbSS and HbSC patients (p<0.001), and to a lesser degree in transfused SCD patients (p<0.05), compared to controls. No significant differences were observed between individuals with diabetes or polycythemia and controls. ΔQ_F strongly correlated with several parameters reflecting RBC deformability and determined by ektacytometry, the gold standard technique (|r|> 0.79, p < 0.001), supporting its relevance as a rigidity marker. ΔQ_F provides RBC deformability information during routine CBC and may support the development of a practical “rigidity flag” for SCD screening and monitoring in compatible hematology analyzers. This approach could help integrate RBC rheology into routine hematology workflows.
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BibTeX
@article{taraconat2026impedance,
title = {{Impedance Signals Reveal Red Blood Cell Deformability: Comparison with Ektacytometry}},
author = {Pierre Taraconat and Maëva Rage and Pierre Pottier and Elie Nader and Damien Isebe and Jean-Philippe Gineys and Nevzat Temurok and Franck Nicoud and Philippe Connes and Simon Mendez},
journal = {Blood Red Cells \& Iron},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05801488v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Impedance Signals Reveal Red Blood Cell Deformability: Comparison with Ektacytometry
AU - Pierre Taraconat
AU - Maëva Rage
AU - Pierre Pottier
AU - Elie Nader
AU - Damien Isebe
AU - Jean-Philippe Gineys
AU - Nevzat Temurok
AU - Franck Nicoud
AU - Philippe Connes
AU - Simon Mendez
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/15
JO - Blood Red Cells & Iron
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05801488v1
AB - Standard methods for measuring red blood cell (RBC) deformability, such as ektacytometry, are rarely available in routine clinical practice. We analyzed near wall impedance pulses generated by RBCs in a Coulter system without hydrodynamic focusing, designed for Complete Blood Count (CBC). The relative amplitude of the rotation associated peak (F) was computed, and its interquartile range (ΔQ_F) was proposed as a global deformability marker. Comparisons with ektacytometry were performed under controlled modulation of RBC deformability (glutaraldehyde, NS309) and in patient samples (15 transfused patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), 26 non-transfused SCD patients (22 HbSS and 4 HbSC), 20 diabetes patients, 7 individuals with secondary polycythemia, 4 with hereditary spherocytosis and 24 healthy subjects). A digital twin of the Coulter counter was used to support the analysis. ΔQ_F increased dose-dependently with glutaraldehyde and NS309 treatment and the values correlated with RBC deformability determined by ektacytometry (|r|>0.95, p<0.001). ΔQ_F was significantly higher in HbSS and HbSC patients (p<0.001), and to a lesser degree in transfused SCD patients (p<0.05), compared to controls. No significant differences were observed between individuals with diabetes or polycythemia and controls. ΔQ_F strongly correlated with several parameters reflecting RBC deformability and determined by ektacytometry, the gold standard technique (|r|> 0.79, p < 0.001), supporting its relevance as a rigidity marker. ΔQ_F provides RBC deformability information during routine CBC and may support the development of a practical “rigidity flag” for SCD screening and monitoring in compatible hematology analyzers. This approach could help integrate RBC rheology into routine hematology workflows.
SN - 3050-5984
SN - 3050-5984
ER -