CYANIDE-FREE REAGENT AND METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF HEMOGLOBIN

A cyanide-free method and reagent for determining the concentration of total hemoglobin in a whole blood sample accurately in less than 10 seconds comprising a ligand selected from the group consisting of imidiazole, imidazole derivatives, N-hydroxyacetamide, N-hydroxyl amine, pyridine, oxazole, thiazole, pyrazole, pyrimidine, purine, quinoline, and isoquinoline, and a surfactant with strong erythrolytic capability selected from the group consisting of lauryl dimethylamine oxide and octylphenoxy polyethoxyethanol. The reagent pH is adjusted to about 11 to about 14. Rapid mixing of the reagent with a blood sample leads to the formation of a stable chromogen whose absorbance can be measured between 540 and 550 nm. The cyanide-free reagent is ideal for use on an automated high through-put clinical hematology analyzer.