A Tetrazolium-Linked Cytochemical Method for Estimation of Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Activity in Individual Erythrocytes: Applications in the Study of Heterozygotes for Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency

A new method is described for the graded estimation of G6PD activity inindividual erythrocytes. The method appears to offer some technical advantages over other methods. It requires reagents that are neither hazardous norunstable and such equipment as might be found in the usual hematology laboratory. It appears to be more sensitive than conventional methods for identification of women heterozygous for G6PD deficiency and further substantiatesthe existence of erythrocyte mosaicism in such individuals.

Submitted on July 12, 1967 Accepted on October 18, 1967