A method for measurement of sodium and potassium in erythrocytes and whole blood.

The analysis of concentration of cations in erythrocytes and plasma, in theory, offers a means of identifying disease states in peripheral blood. Technical difficulties associated with cation analysis in erythrocytes and whole blood have resulted in a lack of precision and accuracy. This lack has increased the difficulties of using the analysis of blood in the diagnosis of disease. It is felt that the technic discussed in this paper with its increased precision, in combination with previously mentioned research in the diagnosis of disease, will increase the clinical significance of the analysis of red cells and whole blood for the diagnosis of disease states.