Application

Drabkin′s reagent has been used for the quantitative colorimetric determination of blood haemoglobin in cerebral tissue to assess cerebral haemorrhage, in red blood cells to detect hemolysis and in contralateral and ipsilateral brain tissue homogenate.

Components

Contains sodium bicarbonate, potassium ferricyanide, and potassium cyanide.

General description

Drabkin′s reagent is used in measuring haemoglobin from blood samples. It comprises potassium ferricyanide, potassium cyanide and potassium dihydrogen phosphate as components. Potassium ferricyanide oxidizes haemoglobin to methemoglobin and then to cyanmethemoglobin. The cyanmethemoglobin levels is estimated at 530nm. It is a reliable method and can measure all haemoglobin forms except sulphaemoglobin.