What does hemolysis mean?
Hemolysis is the destruction or rupture of red blood cells, causing their membrane-bound contents, especially hemoglobin, to be released into the surrounding fluid or bloodstream. The term is principally used in medicine and laboratory science, where it may occur naturally, as in autoimmune hemolytic anemia, or be induced intentionally, as in tests of red-cell fragility or osmotic resistance. Hemolysis is not synonymous with all cell lysis: it names a specific process involving red blood cells. Its adjective, hemolytic, describes something that causes or results from red-cell breakdown, and the verb hemolyze is used when a substance or procedure makes red cells rupture. Because free hemoglobin can interfere with normal circulation and produce other clinical effects, hemolysis is important to identify in blood transfusions, infectious-disease testing, and laboratory quality control. For readers, the key distinction is simple: hemolysis is the breakdown event, while the adjective and verb describe the process and its agents.
nounThe destruction or rupture of red blood cells, with the release of their hemoglobin and other contents. It may occur naturally in disease or be induced in laboratory procedures.
- The destruction or rupture of red blood cells, resulting in the release of hemoglobin into the surrounding fluid.
"The technician repeated the sample because visible hemolysis could have distorted the assay."
"The technician repeated the sample because visible hemolysis could have distorted the assay."
"Autoimmune hemolytic anemia occurs when antibodies accelerate the hemolysis of red blood cells."
Rare; hemolysis is normally treated as a mass noun, although plural forms are used when describing separate instances.
"Several severe hemolyses were observed in the control samples."
Red blood cells bursting is hemolysis—and the spill is their oxygen-carrying hemoglobin.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hemolysis come from?
Hemolysis is a New Latin formation combining Greek haîma, meaning “blood,” with lýsis, meaning “a loosening” or “dissolution.” It entered medical usage in the 19th century as a term for the dissolution or rupture of red blood cells. Its English relatives, including hemoglobin, hematology, hemorrhage, and hemophilia, share the same combining form derived from the Greek word for blood.
Related word forms
How hemolysis is actually used
This is chiefly a formal medical and laboratory term. British English generally spells it haemolysis, while hemolysis is standard in American English and is also widely understood elsewhere. The adjective is hemolytic, and the verb is hemolyze.
Easily confused with hemolysis
Haemolysis is the British spelling of the same word and denotes the same process of red-blood-cell destruction.