Light on abnormal red blood cell subpopulations: Label-free optics-based approach for studying in vitro rigidified blood cells.

RBCs deformability plays a crucial role in maintaining proper blood flow and oxygen delivery throughout the body. Conventional ektacytometry fails to differentiate between variations in deformability of RBC subpopulations as the averaging measurement process obscures these differences. In this study, we introduced an approach that integrates label-free optics-based techniques (flow cytometry, phase-contrast, and two-photon excitation fluorescent microscopy) with ektacytometry to evaluate subpopulations that exhibit decreased RBCs deformability upon an in vitro oxidation using 0.